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French farmer on trial for killing 'truffle thief'

Laurent Rambaud, 37, says he felt threatened when he came across a man while guarding his farm in south-eastern France in 2010.

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A French farmer has gone on trial over the killing of a suspected truffle thief on his land, reports the BBC.

Laurent Rambaud, 37, says he felt threatened when he found Ernest Pardo, 42, and a dog while guarding his farm in south-eastern France in 2010.

He shot Mr Pardo, known to sell truffles at local markets, with two blasts from a pump-action shotgun.

Truffles are a prized delicacy in French cuisine, fetching up to $1,000 (£708) per kilogram (2.2 lb).

The killing, in the small town of Grignan, came days before Christmas, with the truffle harvest underway and demand for the luxury fungus at its peak.

With prices high, truffles have long been tempting for thieves - police have even resorted to micro-chipping batches as a deterrent.

Read more of this report from the BBC.