Carlos The Jackal Returns To Court In France

Carlos the Jackal, also known as Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, is returning to court.

Sanchez was convicted in 2011 of a series of bombings which took place in France nearly 30 years ago. However, he is now asking a French court to review his case in hopes of getting an appeal.

As soon as court began on Monday, Carlos the Jackal demanded new representation. Since he had fired his previous lawyers, Sanchez was looking for court-appointed legal aid to help him through the process.

Although he was found guilty for masterminding the 1982 and 1983 attacks on two French passenger trains, Carlos claims that evidence acquired by prosecutors is unreliable. He is hoping that a panel of judges will agree and grant him an appeal as a result.

Carlos the Jackal has been behind bars since 1994. In addition to sitting in prison for his role in the bombings, he previously received a lengthy prison sentence for triple homicide in 1975. Sanchez explained that he is looking to have his sentence in the bombings overturned, though he stated he wasn’t looking to “sabotage the trial.”

Eleven people died and over 140 were injured during the French train bombings in the 80s. This made him one of the world’s most wanted fugitive until his capture. Many believed the attacks were in response to the detention of two individuals that Carlos was associated with at the time.

In 1997, he was sentenced to life in prison for the murders that took place in 1975. He wouldn’t be convicted of the bombings in France until 2011.

Ilich Ramirez Sanchez received his famous nickname from British tabloids. Investigators reportedly found a copy of author Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 novel Day of the Jackal in his safehouse in London. Once the press learned that he possessed a copy of the thriller, Sanchez was given the nickname.

Carlos the Jackal will return to court on June 26 to learn if the panel of judges has granted his appeal.

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