Special Tribunal for Lebanon welcomes the Lebanese contribution for 2014

Leidschendam, 6 November 2014 - The Special Tribunal for Lebanon can confirm that it has received Lebanon's share of the 2014 budget from the Lebanese government.

 

The full sum of € 29,347,003.50, 49 per cent of the Tribunal's budget, has been transferred to the Tribunal's bank account.

 

"I welcome Lebanon's contribution and I thank the Lebanese government for fulfilling its international obligation to fund the Tribunal ", STL Registrar Daryl Mundis said.

 

The Ayyash et al. trial opened before the Trial Chamber on 16 January 2014. To date, 36 witnesses have testified before the tribunal and a total of 461 exhibits have been admitted into evidence.

Ayyash et al. trial schedule following the judicial recess

  Leidschendam, 25 August 2014 - Trial in the Ayyash et al. case will resume on Tuesday 26 August following the end of the judicial recess.
The Trial Chamber will continue to hear evidence from the Prosecution, with five witnesses scheduled to testify over the next two weeks. The expected evidence relates to the first chapter of the case concerning the events of 14 February 2005.
Since the trial started on 16 January 2014, the testimony of 22 witnesses has been heard and a total of 319 exhibits have been admitted into evidence.
For more information on scheduled hearings in this case please refer to the courtroom calendar on the STL website and the Prosecution's witness schedule.
For an overview of the Ayyash et al. case please visit our new trial page on the STL website.

Appeals Chamber confirms the date for the resumption of the Ayyash et al. trial

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.

Written Decision on the Assignment of Counsel in the Case against Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. and Ibrahim Al Amin

Leidschendam, 5 June 2014 – The Contempt Judge Nicola Lettieri has today issued a decision providing written reasons for the assignment of counsel in the case against Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. and Mr Ibrahim Al Amin (STL-14-06).
The initial appearances of Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. and Ibrahim Al Amin, which were originally scheduled for 13 May, were rescheduled to 29 May upon the Accused's request. Mr Al Amin, representing both himself and Akhbar Beirut S.A.L., appeared via video-conference. Prior to entering a plea, the Accused read a statement to the court, after which he left the courtroom. Judge Lettieri interpreted Mr Al Amin's statement and his actions as a plea of not-guilty. After consultations with the parties the Contempt Judge ordered the Defence Office to appoint counsel for the Accused.
The decision of the Contempt Judge makes it clear that Mr Al Amin's presence at the initial appearance means that he no longer has the rights that an Accused in an in absentia trial enjoys (see paragraph 13 of the decision).
The Contempt Judge states in his decision that Mr Amin may still participate in person or via video-conference in these proceedings, and appoint counsel of his own choosing to represent him if he so wishes. In this case, the Judge concludes that he "would be ready to reconsider" his decision to order the Head of the Defence Office to appoint counsel on his behalf.
In addition to ordering the assignment of counsel, the decision ordered the Amicus Curiae Prosecutor to initiate disclosure at the earliest opportunity after counsel is assigned and necessary arrangements are made.
The 31 January decision stipulated that publicising the names of protected witnesses – or even alleging such publication – may have serious consequences for the Tribunal's functioning. Today's decision read that "at the centre of these proceedings, which are ancillary to the main case currently before the Trial Chamber, is the Tribunal's ability and duty to protect its witnesses".
All public filings in this case are available at http://www.stl-tsl.org/en/the-cases/stl-14-06 .

SECRETARY-GENERAL UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE OF LEBANON TRIBUNAL’S WORK IN TACKLING IMPUNITY - 28 MAY 2014

•  Yesterday, the Secretary-General met with M. François Roux, Head of the Defence Office of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The Secretary-General noted the vital role of the Defence Office in ensuring that the proceedings before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon are fair and credible.
• The Secretary-General highlighted the importance of the work of the Special Tribunal in tackling impunity for the crimes within its jurisdiction. He expressed his hope that the proceedings would move smoothly and expeditiously.

STL Trial Chamber sets date for restart of trial in Ayyash et al.

Leidschendam, 14 May 2014 - The Trial Chamber of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has issued an oral ruling setting the date for the resumption of trial as Wednesday 18 June 2014. The decision came during a status conference on 12 May. The Prosecutor's opening statement in the case against Mr. Merhi is scheduled for 18 June. Counsel for Mr. Merhi may then, if they choose, make their own opening statement.

The Trial Chamber will sit on a reduced basis until the judicial recess in July, so as to allow more free time for counsel to prepare their case. The Trial Chamber will re-assess this sitting schedule in July. According to the Special Tribunal's rules, any party wishing to file an interlocutory appeal against this decision can do so within seven days (from 12 May 2014).
During the Trial Chamber status conference in the Ayyash et al. case there was also discussion of Lebanon's cooperation with the STL. On this the Trial Chamber stated that if Lebanon does not have in its possession material requested by the STL, it should communicate this to the Tribunal.

At the status conference, the Prosecution provided an overview of how they will continue the presentation of the first chapter of their case. Co-counsel for Mr Merhi stated that the Merhi case is large and complex and that this has been exacerbated since the case is being held in absentia. They had asked not to resume the proceedings before end of September 2014.

Initial appearances of Accused in the contempt cases - STL Media Advisory

Leidschendam, 7 May 2014 – The Contempt Judge has ordered initial appearances on Tuesday 13 May of the Accused in the case against New TV S.A.L. and Ms Karma Khayat, and of the Accused in the case against Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. and Mr Ibrahim Al Amin.

The two journalists and two media organisations were charged with contempt before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon for knowingly and wilfully interfering with the administration of justice.

The initial appearances of the Accused are scheduled as follows:
New TV S.A.L.: 9:30 AM
Ms Karma Khayat: 10:30 AM
Akhbar Beirut S.A.L.: 2:30 PM
Mr Ibrahim Al Amin: 3:30 PM

As stated by the Contempt Judge in the summons, the Accused may decide either to come to the seat of the Tribunal or to make their initial appearance by video-conference, provided that counsel attends in person.

The hearings will be public, but the judge may decide to go into closed session if confidential matters need to be discussed.

The hearings can be followed live on the STL website in English, French and Arabic.