Thursday, October 20, 2011

Special Tribunal for Lebanon Media Advisory - Trial Chamber calls for submissions on in absentia proceedings

Leidschendam, 20 October 2011 - The Special Tribunal for Lebanon's Trial Chamber has issued a scheduling order, which requests written submissions relating to in absentia proceedings from the Office of the ProsecutorThe individual mandated by the Statute of the Tribunal to investigate and prosecute individuals alleged to have committed crimes within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal and each of the accusedA person who has been charged with one or more counts of criminal conduct in an indictment which has been confirmed by the Pre-Trial Judge .
Since the accused have not yet appointed counsel the Trial Chamber has also asked the STL's Defence Office to file submissions.
The deadline for all written submissions is November 2nd. A public hearing will be held by the Trial Chamber at 10:00 on 11th November 2011.
Journalists will be sent details of the accrediation process for that hearing in the coming days.
The scheduling order follows a requestIn a criminal law context, this refers to a petition by a party to a case, either in writing or orally, expressing a desire for the court to have a specific request granted or action carried out by the Pre Trial Judge for the Trial Chamber to make a determination whether in absentia proceedings should be initiated.
 
 

Monday, October 17, 2011

STL Media Advisory – Pre-Trial judge requests Trial Chamber to decide on proceedings in absentia

Leidschendam, 17 October 2011 - The Pre-Trial Judge has asked the Trial Chamber to determine whether proceedings in absentia should be initiated in the case of Ayyash et al.
The Tribunal's rules state that if the accused have not been arrested within 30 calendar days of the public advertisement of an indictment, then the Pre-Trial Judge can request that the Trial Chamber initiate proceedings in absentia.
According to the Pre-Trial Judge's ruling, this period of public advertisement started at the latest on 15 September 2011 when a wanted poster displaying the pictures of the accused, their personal details and the counts against them were published in major Lebanese newspapers.
The Trial Chamber will now have to determine whether the required conditions have been met in order to start the proceedings in absentia whilst preserving the rights of the accused.