The four men accused of being accomplices&nbsp;in the killing of an 85-year-old&nbsp;French priest&nbsp;will face a trial by a special jury, which in France is reserved for the most serious crimes.

Jacques Hamel was killed in cold blood in July 2016 as a group of men from the Islamic State (IS) group slit his throat&nbsp;at the foot of the altar. The two murderers were killed by the police, and four others were arrested on the suspicion of being accomplices of the murderers.

The news agency AFP has released exclusive information that the&nbsp;investigating magistrates said the four would face a special jury court, meeting a demand by prosecutors last month.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-shocked-to-hear-black-music-producer-being-beaten-by-french-police-officers-detained-345812">Macron 'shocked' to hear Black music producer being beaten by French police; officers detained</a>

One of the main accused is&nbsp;Rachid Kassim, who is being believed to be an IS recruiter and has also been accused of instigating the incident. Although he was assumed dead in Iraq in 2017, he&nbsp;will be tried in absentia as his death has never been confirmed.

The other three face less serious charges of having involvement with a terrorist organisation. One of these three has been identified as&nbsp;Yassine S. who has admitted to travelling with the murderers to apparently "to learn about religion" but has also claimed to have left their company a day before the attack. The other two, identified as&nbsp;Jean-Philippe Steven Jean-Louis and Farid K., are also being charged with being a part of the terrorist group, despite being aware of the intent of the murderers.

The four will be put on trial soon, now, years after the French priest was murdered in cold blood. His death was followed by a series of attack in the capital city of France.

The four men accused of being accomplices in the killing of an 85-year-old French priest will face a trial by a special jury, which in France is reserved for the most serious crimes.

The four men accused of being accomplices in the killing of an 85-year-old French priest will face a trial by a special jury, which in France is reserved for the most serious crimes. Jacques Hamel was killed in cold blood in July 2016 as a group of men from the Islamic State (IS) group slit his throat at the foot of the altar. The two murderers were killed by the police, and four others were arrested on the suspicion of being accomplices of the murderers. The news agency AFP has released exclusive information that the investigating magistrates said the four would face a special jury court, meeting a demand by prosecutors last month. Also read| Macron 'shocked' to hear Black music producer being beaten by French police; officers detained One of the main accused is Rachid Kassim, who is being believed to be an IS recruiter and has also been accused of instigating the incident. Although he was assumed dead in Iraq in 2017, he will be tried in absentia as his death has never been confirmed. The other three face less serious charges of having involvement with a terrorist organisation. One of these three has been identified as Yassine S. who has admitted to travelling with the murderers to apparently "to learn about religion" but has also claimed to have left their company a day before the attack. The other two, identified as Jean-Philippe Steven Jean-Louis and Farid K., are also being charged with being a part of the terrorist group, despite being aware of the intent of the murderers. The four will be put on trial soon, now, years after the French priest was murdered in cold blood. His death was followed by a series of attack in the capital city of France.

Four accused of killing French priest in 2016 to face special jury trial

A cousin of Abdel-Malik Nabil Petitjean, who was formally identified as one of the two men believed to have killed a French priest in a church last week, has been placed in preventive detention, the Paris prosecutor&#39;s office said on Sunday.

The man, identified as Farid K, 30, and&nbsp;born in Nancy, eastern France,&nbsp;was put under formal investigation on suspicion of terrorist association with a view to perpetrating a crime, the prosecutor&#39;s office said.

Another man, named as Jean-Philippe Steven J, 20, was also put under formal investigation for attempting to travel to Syria in June with Petitjean. He was also sent to preventive detention.

Knife-wielding attackers interrupted a church service in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, western France, on July 26, forced 85-year-old Roman Catholic priest Father Jacques Hamel to his knees and slit his throat.

Police identified 19-year-old local man Adel Kermiche as one of the attackers. He had made failed bids to reach Syria to wage jihad, wore an electronic tag and was awaiting trial for alleged membership of a terrorist organisation, having been released on bail.

They identified the second attacker as Petitjean, also 19.

Both were shot dead by the police.

Investigators are trying to determine how the two men met.

Le Parisien daily newspaper reported on Sunday they had held a conversation on July 22 on the instant messaging service Telegram. 
 
(Reuters)

The man, identified as Farid K, was put under formal investigation on suspicion of terrorist association with a view to perpetrating a crime

A cousin of Abdel-Malik Nabil Petitjean, who was formally identified as one of the two men believed to have killed a French priest in a church last week, has been placed in preventive detention, the Paris prosecutor's office said on Sunday. The man, identified as Farid K, 30, and born in Nancy, eastern France, was put under formal investigation on suspicion of terrorist association with a view to perpetrating a crime, the prosecutor's office said. Another man, named as Jean-Philippe Steven J, 20, was also put under formal investigation for attempting to travel to Syria in June with Petitjean. He was also sent to preventive detention. Knife-wielding attackers interrupted a church service in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, western France, on July 26, forced 85-year-old Roman Catholic priest Father Jacques Hamel to his knees and slit his throat. Police identified 19-year-old local man Adel Kermiche as one of the attackers. He had made failed bids to reach Syria to wage jihad, wore an electronic tag and was awaiting trial for alleged membership of a terrorist organisation, having been released on bail. They identified the second attacker as Petitjean, also 19. Both were shot dead by the police. Investigators are trying to determine how the two men met. Le Parisien daily newspaper reported on Sunday they had held a conversation on July 22 on the instant messaging service Telegram. (Reuters)

Cousin of Paris church attacker charged and detained

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Four accused of killing French priest in 2016 to face special jury trial

Cousin of Paris church attacker charged and detained