The Paris trial of 26 men accused of torturing and murdering 23-year-old Ilan Halimi in 2006 was suspended on Thursday after their leader threw his shoes across the courtroom at lawyers of the victim's family, according to Reuters. A prosecution lawyer says Youssof Fofana's shoe throwing occurred during the presentation of evidence by doctors who examined Halimi's body. Throwing shoes at someone is a powerful insult in the Arab world.
It is not clear when the hearing would be resumed. The trial is being conducted behind closed doors, with no press or public allowed, at the request of two of the defendants who were minors at the time of the killing.
Fofana, has said he killed Halimi. During his time in detention, Fofana, has sent a stream of letters containing anti-Semitic abuse to investigators .
Halimi was kidnapped for more than three weeks and severely tortured in a case that shocked France and highlighted the issue of anti-Semitic violence in the country's multi-ethnic suburbs.