Joshua Olav Daniel Hodne French (born 7 April 1982) is a Norwegian-British man who was convicted of murder in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

[1] The trial caused controversy in Norway and Europe, as his mother claimed a lack of physical evidence, and "a clear economic motive from the Congolese government".

[4] In 2006, he was admitted to the Telemark Battalion, the Norwegian Army's elite infantry unit, but was fired in 2007 when he and Moland were accused of having recruited military personnel into employment with private security companies.

[5] After resigning from the army, French and Moland continued working in the private security sector, specializing in contracts in Africa.

On 5 May 2009, their hired driver, 47-year-old Abedi Kasongo, was shot and killed near Bafwasende, Tshopo District, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.

On 8 September 2009, they were both found guilty and sentenced to death by a military tribunal in the regional capital, Kisangani.

[16] Britain's Foreign Ministry had requested intervention by Hollande, given French's status as a British national.

When Moland did not return from the adjoining bathroom French woke up and found his cellmate dead.

[20] Norway's Foreign Ministry also posted a senior diplomat and press liaison officer to Kinshasa.

[21] Following the death, Morten Furuholmen, former lawyer for the two prisoners, said that "there should have been more activity from the highest levels of politics, including meeting in Congo.

[23] During his incarceration, French's health declined drastically and he made several escape attempts to get medical treatment.

[25] The process of having him transferred to Norway had begun several weeks before, but was not made public until after the plane carrying French had landed on Norwegian soil.

[26] Upon his return to Norway, French was hospitalized and treated in isolation for infections caused by multi-resistant bacteria.