Plea to PM to stop Africa executions

The mother of a former British soldier facing execution in the Democratic Republic of Congo has urged David Cameron to help stop the death sentence being carried out.

Joshua French, 29, who has dual British and Norwegian nationality, and his friend, Tjostolv Moland, 30, were found guilty of espionage and murder for a second time following a military trial in June 2010 which was branded a “farce” by campaigners.

French’s mother, Kari Hilde, has now urged the Prime Minister to ask President Joseph Kabila to spare the men’s lives.

“The decision whether or not to take Joshua’s life is in the hands of President Kabila,” she said.

“It is now essential that both the Norwegian and the British Prime Minister become involved and ask, on behalf of their nations, that these young men be spared. I request of the British Prime Minister to ask His Excellency President Kabila for a full pardon for my son.

“My son and his friend face execution or life imprisonment, which in reality means death.” Moland also goes by the name of Mike Callan. French and Moland are blamed by authorities in DR Congo for the death of Abedi Kasongo, who had been hired to drive the two former soldiers after their motorbike broke down in April 2009.

The 47-year-old driver was shot in the head 70 miles east of Kisangani.

French and Moland denied responsibility. They claimed that unknown gunmen ambushed them in the middle of a dense rainforest.

Morten Furuholmen, the pair’s Norwegian lawyer, added: “Joshua and Mike are in real danger.”