MONTPELLIER, France - A French artist allegedly traumatized by last week's Spain bombings was convicted of trying to run over a pedestrian he mistook for Osama bin Laden and ordered to pay the man $615.
The 35-year-old defendant, identified as Pierre, was sentenced Tuesday by a court in this southern France city to a three-month suspended prison term. The man he tried to run over was unharmed.
Pierre's lawyer, David Mendel, said his client was the "victim of a hallucination" while driving Monday through Montpellier's historic center.
The victim, a man in his 30s, was able to run from the oncoming car, which crashed along the side of a street.
"If it was (bin Laden), we would have won $5 million," Mendel said, referring to a reward.
The Madrid train bombings, which killed 201 people, increasingly appear to have been orchestrated by Islamic extremists with links to bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network. link
Do you really think the capture of Osama Bin Laden will stop any attacks?
When the leader is captured the rest of the group isn't captured, and they will find a new leader.