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    March 08, 2012

Mexico May Release French Woman Convicted for Kidnapping

   VOA News
   In a undated photo, French national Florence Cassez listens to her
   lawyer in prison in Mexico City. Sentenced to 60 years for kidnapping,
   the Court will propose her "immediate and absolute" release. The
   proposal, to be examined by five judges from the fir
   Photo: AFP
   In a undated photo, French national Florence Cassez listens to her
   lawyer in prison in Mexico City. The Court will propose her "immediate
   and absolute" release, March 7, 2012.

   French President Nicolas Sarkozy has welcomed a motion by Mexico's
   Supreme Court justice to release a French woman serving a 60-year
   sentence for kidnapping.
   The French leader was quoted Thursday as saying, the decision to
   overturn Florence Cassez's sentence was "the first good news in five
   and half years."
   The judge said in his ruling, Cassez was denied immediate access to an
   attorney, and was not presented before prosecutors in due time
   following her arrest in 2005.
   Prosecutors accused Cassez of being involved in a Mexican kidnapping
   gang, the Zodiacs, allegedly led by her boyfriend.
   She has denied involvement in any kidnappings.
   The final decision on Cassez's release lies with a panel of five
   Mexican judges set to vote on the justice's motion.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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