Rock Star Back to French Prison

Lithuania will allow French rock singer Bertrand Cantat, imprisoned in Vilnius for the murder of his French actress girlfriend, to return to France next week to serve out the remainder of his eight-year sentence, his lawyer said Friday.

"French officials are coming next week to accompany Cantat back to France. They will most likely come early in the week," Virginijus Papirtis told AFP.

Cantat, 41, lead singer of the group Noir Desir, was jailed for eight years on March 29 for beating his French girlfriend Marie Trintignant to death during a row in a Vilnius hotel a year ago. The case drew a great deal of attention in France.

The lawyer said he had just visited Cantat in prison to inform him of the news. It answers a request

Cantat filed in July asking to finish out his term in France.

Papirtis said the Lithuanian justice ministry received a letter from its French counterpart earlier this month agreeing to the handover, though time was needed to prepare the necessary documents.

Cantat will return to France on a regular flight, the lawyer said.

The charismatic Bertrand Cantat first came to the attention of France's music scene almost 20 years ago. Celebrated for his enigmatic performances as the lead singer of the best known French rock band, Noir Desir, he was hailed as the French Jim Morrison.

Source: APF
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