Karim Achoui : THE LAWYER AND THE MURDERERS | M6 | 66 minutes

Karim Achoui, lawyer for the big bosses in the underworld, is a heavyweight at the bar.June 22 last year, right in the middle of Paris, a man on a motorcycle put two bullets into him. Before taking flight the would-be killer tried to fire another 4 shots, but the gun jammed. According to Achoui, an informer had warned him several days before that an attempt on his life was being planned. At the age of 40, this son of a Kabyle shopkeeper is one of the most solicited criminal lawyers in Paris. His success is built on the defence of the most notorious thugs in the world of crime and terrorism. But Karim Achoui’s brilliant career came to a sudden stop in March 2003, with the spectacular escape from the Fresnes prison of Antonio Ferrara, a specialist in holding up armoured bullion vans. Ferrara was a client of Achoui, who is suspected of having assisted him. That’s a serious accusation for a lawyer. He is due to stand trial in 2008. He faces life imprisonment.He also has other reasons for concern. Last June, he was banned from practising for five years for fraud. He is appealing that decision.