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French far-right thugs jailed for killing teenage anti-fascist activist

A Paris court handed two men jail sentences for their part in the killing of student Clément Méric, 18, during a brawl between far-right skinheads and anti-fascist militants in Paris in 2013, and which led to the banning of a number of far-right groups.

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Two former skinheads were handed seven- and 11-year jail terms by a Paris court Friday for killing an 18-year-old antifascist in a 2013 brawl, reports Expatica.

The heaviest sentence went to Esteban Morillo, who admitted having dealt the fatal blows that left student Clément Méric brain-dead. He died later.

Co-accused, Samuel Dufour, who was by Morillo's side but did not hit Méric, received a seven-year term.

The men will appeal the sentences, their lawyers said.

Méric's parents welcomed the ruling.

"The court's decision establishes who is responsible, and makes an end to the lies about Clement's behaviour," his father Paul-Henri Méric said, adding "there were aggressors and there were victims".

The prosecution had requested a 12-year sentence for Morillo for what it called an act of "savagery", and seven years for Dufour.

A third accused was acquitted.

Méric, a student at the prestigious Sciences-Po university, died after a clash in a busy Paris shopping area in June 2013 between skinheads and left-wing activists.

Read more of this AFP report published by Expatica.