Algeria trial opens over kidnapping and murder of French tourist

Only one of the alleged kidnappers of French mountaineer Herve Gourdel was in court on the first day of the trial.

The trial in the 2014 kidnapping and beheading of a French tourist claimed by an armed faction affiliated to the Islamic State group has opened before an Algiers court on Thursday. Just one of the alleged kidnappers of 55-year-old mountain guide instructor Herve Gourdel was in court for the trial – the other seven are being tried in absentia. Members of Gourdel’s family, including his partner Francoise Grandclaude, were in the public gallery.