Coup-plot British man jailed

British mercenary Simon Mann was today jailed for being the key player in a 2004 coup in Equatorial Guinea.

The court in Malabo jailed the former SAS soldier for 34 years and four months.

Prosecutors had requested a sentence of 33 years.

Judge Carlos Mangue said in today’s ruling that Mann failed to show “an attitude of regret”, despite his apology before the court.

Mann has acknowledged knowingly taking part in the attempt to topple the government, but his lawyer argued that Mann was a secondary player.

A defence lawyer who represented six of the men tried alongside Mann claimed tonight that he had been tricked into admitting his role.

Fabian Nguema told Channel 4 News there had been “gaps” in the judicial process.

“They’ll promise nothing will happen to you, the president is going to pardon you, and so on,” he said.

“Was Mann cheated into telling the truth? We know that’s what has happened.”

Asked whether the trial had been fair and transparent, Mr Nguema added: “Well, that’s the way the President sees it. But for us lawyers, we’ve seen that there have been many gaps in this judicial process.”