PARIS — A French court on Tuesday convicted the man known as “Carlos the Jackal,” once the world’s most-wanted fugitive, of a deadly 1974 attack on a Paris shopping arcade and sentenced him to life in prison for the third time.

The Venezuelan-born Ilich Ramirez Sanchez is already serving two life sentences in France for murders and attacks he was convicted of perpetrating or organizing on behalf of the Palestinian cause or of communist revolution in the 1970s and ’80s.

His lawyers, who had pleaded for acquittal, said they will appeal the latest verdict, though the third life sentence doesn’t affect how long he will stay behind bars.

A few hours before the decision was returned, the 67-year-old known worldwide as Carlos took the floor one last time and denounced “an absurd trial” for a 42-year-old crime. He had denied involvement, saying there was no proof against him or direct witnesses.


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