A French court has sentenced eight people to prison for their roles in the 2020 murder of teacher Samuel Paty, who was beheaded after showing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad during a class on free speech.

Sentences ranged from one to 16 years, with two men receiving 16 years for aiding the attacker and a preacher sentenced to 15 years for leading an online hate campaign.

Another man received 13 years for spreading false accusations about Paty, Al-Jazeera has reported.

The remaining defendants were convicted for their involvement in fueling online hostility, which prosecutors said contributed to the fatal attack.

Written by B.C. Begley