France, March 16 -- The accused is a French jihadist presumed dead but still being tried in absentia for his alleged role in enslaving and abusing Yazidi women and children.

Sabri Essid, born in Toulouse in 1984, joined the Islamic State group in Syria in early 2014. Investigators say he first worked as a bodyguard to a senior IS leader before becoming a member of the Amniyat, the organisation's internal security and intelligence branch.

He faces charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and complicity in those crimes committed in Syria between August 2014 and 2016.

Four Yazidi women and their seven children have been identified as victims in the case.

Essid is presumed to have died in Syria in 2018. Because there is no official co...