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'Carlos the Jackal' wants court to review life sentence

PARIS, May 13 (UPI) -- Political terrorist Ilich "Carlos the Jackal" Ramirez Sanchez asked a French court Monday to review his life sentence for deadly bombings in the 1980s.

Ramirez, of Venezuela, told the court he fired his two lawyers and asked for court-appointed replacements, Le Figaro reported.

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Ramirez is serving two life sentences in France for a triple murder in 1975, and for the bombings in 1982 and 1983 in which 11 people died and more than 140 were injured. He's been jailed since 1994.

"I have no intention to sabotage the trial," Ramirez said of his decision to seek new counsel.

A decision is expected June 26.

In a 2009 speech, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has since died, praised Ramirez, saying he was unfairly convicted and wasn't a terrorist but a "revolutionary fighter."

Ramirez was sentenced to life in prison in 1997 for a 1975 triple murder.

In 2011, Ramirez received a second life sentence for the bomb attacks in France in 1982 and 1983 that left 11 dead and 140 injured.

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