November 13 trial: "I made mistakes but I am not an assassin", Abdeslam's last words

These are the last words of the fourteen defendants of the trial of the attacks of November 13 before the verdict.

“I've made mistakes but I'm not an assassin I'm not a killer.

If you convict me of murder you will be committing an injustice.

“Said Salah Abdeslam before the special assize court in Paris on Monday.

The final hearing of this river trial started in September, the longest in post-war French criminal judicial history, began at 9:30 a.m.

As provided by law, each defendant will be invited to speak by President Jean-Louis Périès, a last opportunity to speak before the professional judges begin their deliberations and render their verdict expected on Wednesday evening.

Read alsoTrial of the attacks of November 13: in the blur of the course of Salah Abdeslam

“I strongly condemn these attacks, I sincerely apologize to the victims.

I did not do it before because these words had no place in the face of their pain, ”also declared Mohamed Bakkali, accused close to the El Bakraoui brothers.

Almost silent during the investigation, Salah Abdeslam - the only surviving member of the commandos who caused the death of 130 people in Paris and Saint-Denis on November 13, 2015 - spoke a lot during the hearing.

The 32-year-old Frenchman was ambivalent, oscillating between arrogance when he proclaimed himself an "Islamic State fighter" on the first day of the hearing and compassion when he presented, with tears streaming down his cheeks, his "condolences and (his) apologies to all the victims”.

He explained that he had given up using his explosive belt in a bar in the 18th arrondissement of Paris out of "humanity".

“Whatever people say, this trial would not have been the same at all if Salah Abdeslam had remained silent.

There would have been a deep feeling of failure if that had been the case, ”said his lawyer Martin Vettes on Friday during the final pleadings.

Last opportunity to clarify roles

Not convinced by Salah Abdeslam's "balancing act" who systematically sought to "minimize the facts", the national anti-terrorism prosecution (Pnat) requested incompressible life imprisonment against him, the heaviest sanction allowed by French law, which makes the possibility of release very small.

It is equivalent to a "slow death sentence", denounced Salah Abdeslam's other lawyer, Me Olivia Ronen.

Another defendant against whom life was requested, with a security period of 22 years, Mohamed Abrini, childhood friend of Salah Abdeslam.

He also spoke a lot during the hearing, acknowledging that he was "scheduled for November 13", but he remained stingy with explanations of his renunciation.

Monday's hearing is the last opportunity to clarify his role.

"He never ceased to doubt," said his lawyer Marie Violleau last week.

Three other defendants against whom the Pnat requested life imprisonment - Osama Krayem, Sofien Ayari and Mohamed Bakkali - preferred to remain silent during the proceedings.