December 3, 2007 - 7:33 PM

Youths on trial over French arson attack

By Jean-Francois Rosnoblet

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France (Reuters) - Six teenagers went on trial in southern France on Monday over the torching of a bus in 2006, hearing the testimony of a young woman who was severely burned in the incident.

The trial again highlights the problem of urban violence in France, a week after youths in a suburb north of Paris clashed with police and set fire to shops, cars and public buildings in two consecutive nights of unrest.

The six youths facing trial are suspected of being part of a gang of eight who attacked a bus in the southern port city of Marseille in October last year, spraying petrol on the seats and setting it ablaze as passengers tried to flee.

One passenger, Mama Galledou, a student from Senegal, caught fire and spent months in hospital recovering from severe burns covering 62 percent of her body.

The six teenagers, aged between 16 and 18 years, are accused of arson inflicting a handicap or mutilation and face up to 30 years in prison. Two younger boys were sentenced to eight years in prison by a juvenile court in September.

Galledou, 27, testified by video link for about half an hour, telling the court of her "need to know" exactly what happened the night the bus was torched.

"It hurts so much that in the end it doesn't hurt any more," she said. "I can't let go, I have to live."

People present in the courtroom said she smiled and wore a transparent neck brace.

"It was deeply moving. She spoke without hatred or anger. She gave us a lesson in courage," said Akim Ikhlef, one of the defence lawyers.

TRUTH, NOT EXCUSES

The Marseille incident followed a number of similar attacks last year on buses near Paris close to the first anniversary of 2005 riots in France's run-down and multiracial suburbs.

Media have quoted the teenagers as saying they wanted a share of the attention given to the violence near Paris.

Many young people in the bleak estates surrounding France's big cities say they face discrimination when trying to find a job or better housing.

Some of the youths' lawyers said they feared last week's violence near Paris could weigh on the trial.

To Galledou, the severity of the youths' sentence, if they are found guilty, is of little importance, her lawyer said.

"(If found guilty), whether these attackers get several months or many years in prison is of little interest. It won't give her health back," lawyer Alain Molla said. "She expects the truth from this trial, more than obvious excuses."

The verdict at the court for minors in the southern city of Aix-en-Provence is due on Friday. The case is being held behind closed doors, as is standard practice for minors.

(Writing by Kerstin Gehmlich; Editing by Keith Weir)