Leidschendam, 5 June 2014 – The Appeals Chamber today rendered a decision confirming 18 June as the date for the resumption of trial in the Ayyash et al. case.
The decision follows an appeal filed by counsel for Mr Merhi on 22 May 2014.
The Appeals Chamber denied three of the four grounds of appeal raised by counsel for Mr Merhi but it upheld, in part, one of Merhi's Defence complaints. The Merhi team had requested to postpone the trial until an expert had reviewed the Prosecution's evidence and prepared a report. The Appeals Chamber found that the Trial Chamber had "abused its discretion when it failed to consider whether counsel for Mr Merhi required the assistance of their expert – at least on the basis of interim reports – for particular witnesses or groups of witnesses that the Prosecutor intends to call in the next part of his case."
The Appeals Chamber Judges instructed the Trial Chamber to assess on a case-by-case basis whether the Merhi Defence can challenge the evidence of certain witnesses without the assistance of an expert.
A pre-trial conference is scheduled for 16 June and trial will resume on 18 June 2014.
The decision follows an appeal filed by counsel for Mr Merhi on 22 May 2014.
The Appeals Chamber denied three of the four grounds of appeal raised by counsel for Mr Merhi but it upheld, in part, one of Merhi's Defence complaints. The Merhi team had requested to postpone the trial until an expert had reviewed the Prosecution's evidence and prepared a report. The Appeals Chamber found that the Trial Chamber had "abused its discretion when it failed to consider whether counsel for Mr Merhi required the assistance of their expert – at least on the basis of interim reports – for particular witnesses or groups of witnesses that the Prosecutor intends to call in the next part of his case."
The Appeals Chamber Judges instructed the Trial Chamber to assess on a case-by-case basis whether the Merhi Defence can challenge the evidence of certain witnesses without the assistance of an expert.
A pre-trial conference is scheduled for 16 June and trial will resume on 18 June 2014.
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