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DENMARK: The perpetrator of a cartoonist Muhammad scoop of nine years' imprisonment

AFP - Somali Mohamed Geele was sentenced Friday to nine years in prison for attempted "terrorism" and murder against the Danish Mohammed cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, and for aggravated assault against a police officer, said the tribunal Aarhus.

"Mohamed Geele was sentenced to nine years in prison and deportation for life of Denmark" at the expiration of his sentence, said the president of the court, Ingrid Thorsboe.

His lawyer, Niels Strauss, immediately appealed that conviction, asking for "the discharge of (his) client for charges of terrorism and mitigating circumstances for the remaining charges."

The prosecution had requested public Thursday after the announcement of the verdict of guilty, a minimum of 12 years in prison.

The Somali, aged 29, "will also pay compensation of 10,000 kroner (1,300 euros) to Kurt Westergaard and the costs of the trial," added Ms. Thorsboe.

She said that "Mohamed Geele remain in custody until his trial on appeal."

Questioned by AFP, Mr. Strauss said that Mohammed Geele, remained impassive reading of the verdict, "was not surprised by this decision in view of the heavy charges against him."

This award, even if it is "less severe" than that demanded by the prosecutor, shows "that the use of the article of law on terrorism is dubious and vague, leaving room for broad interpretation," said Mr. Strauss .

According to him, "is the first time that aggression against one person is accused of terrorism," which "is not founded".

"The three judges of the court were based on legislation passed in haste by the Parliament in 2002 following the attacks of September 9, 2001 in the U.S. and the EU statements on terrorism," he explained.

The Attorney Kirsten Dyrman side expressed its "satisfaction with the verdict" and banishment for life in the country's convicted.

"That he had three years in prison for less than what I needed due to the fact that Kurt Westergaard did not suffer physically" for the attack, she said.

In the evening of 1 January 2010, Mohamed Geele had raided the home of designer near Aarhus, armed with a hatchet and a knife, shouting that he wanted to kill him because he had insulted the prophet and Muslims.

Kurt Westergaard, 75, had taken refuge in a bathroom safe, forcing the aggressor to leave the house before being shot by the police.

He continued by threatening to ax a policeman who had to use his weapon to hurt and control.