France

Former Action Directe member freed on parole

Article published on the 2008-08-02 Latest update 2008-08-02 13:25 TU

Nathalie Ménigon leaving prison
(Photo: AFP)

Natalie Menigon, a member of the left-wing armed group Action Directe who had served 20 years in prison for two high-profile murders, was released on parole early Saturday morning. Two other members of the group's leadership may be released after a special committee reports on whether they are still dangerous.

Menigon, who is 51-years-old, left the jail at Seysses, near the south-western city of Toulouse, at 9 am, accompanied by three people who had come to fetch her.

For the next five years she will have to inform the authorities of any change of address and seek permission to leave the area where she will live. For the past year she has been living part of the time with friends and part in prison.

She was sentenced to life in prison twice, in 1989 and 1994, for the murders of Renault chief executive George Besse in 1986 and government arms sales head René Audran in 1985.

Her lawyer says that she no longer believes in "armed struggle".

Menigon was believed to be one of four top leaders of Action Directe, along with her husband Jean-Marc Rouillan, who is currently under a partial freedom regime, Georges Cipriani, who is still in jail, and Joëlle Aubron, who died in 2006 after being freed on medical grounds.

A consultative committee is currently examining the cases of Cipriani and another of the group's members, Régis Schleicher, who was jailed for seriously wounding two police officers.

If it decides that they are no longer a danger to the public, they could be released under the same conditions as Menigon.