law

Florence Cassez to be freed in Mexico

Florence Cassez's case became a cause celebre in France

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A Frenchwoman jailed in Mexico in 2007 for 60 years for kidnapping is to be freed, the Supreme Court has decided.

Florence Cassez had denied the charges and many irregularities have been found in the case, including a staged televised police raid.

Three judges on a panel of five voted to have Ms Cassez released immediately because her rights had been violated.

The case provoked tensions between Mexico and France, where news of her impending release was widely welcomed.

Ms Cassez's mother, Charlotte, told French television the case had been full of suspense right to the end. "It's an explosion of joy. I can't quite believe it," she said.

In a statement, President Francois Hollande said the decision marked the end of a "particularly painful period".

"France thanks all those who, in Mexico as well as here at home, have fought so that truth and justice prevail."

Mr Hollande spoke to Ms Cassez by phone on Wednesday evening. Details of the conversation have not been revealed.

Her lawyer told French TV Ms Cassez would be out of jail very soon and could be back in France on Thursday.

"It's over. I will go and collect Florence at the prison now. I am collecting a woman that I have been dreaming of collecting from a horrible prison for the last seven years," Frank Berton said.

"This is a historic day for Mexican justice."

Sharp criticism

Florence Cassez was arrested on 8 December 2005 at a ranch near Mexico City where several hostages were found, but denied knowledge of the kidnappings, in which her former boyfriend was involved.

The next day, Mexican TV showed what it described as live footage of a police raid, which it later transpired had been a reconstruction performed at the request of the media.

The Supreme Court judges ruled that the reconstruction had violated Ms Cassez's rights.

The decision to release her has been sharply criticised by one of the hostages, Ezequiel Elizalde, BBC Mexico correspondent Will Grant says.

Mr Elizalde testified against Ms Cassez and has condemned the Supreme Court's decision as "disgusting", describing Mexico's institutions as "filth".

This was the second time that the Supreme Court had taken a vote on freeing Ms Cassez.

Last March, however, the judges decided against her release, despite acknowledging serious irregularities in the process.

When first convicted, she was jailed for 96 years, But, in 2009, a court of appeal reduced the term to 60 years.

French authorities tried to extradite her, but the move was blocked by the Mexican government.

Mr Hollande's predecessor in the Elysee Palace, Nicolas Sarkozy, championed the case and repeatedly clashed with the Mexican government of then-President Felipe Calderon.

Diplomatic tensions reached a peak two years ago when Mexican authorities cancelled a high-profile cultural event in Paris