Pre-Trial Judge sets tentative date for trial

The Pre-Trial Judge issued today an order setting 25 March 2013 as a tentative date for trial to start in the Ayyash et al case.                

The order provides the parties and the victims' legal representatives with a concrete starting date allowing them to continue preparing for trial.            

"The setting of a provisional date for trial by Judge Daniel Fransen is an important judicial step on the road to trial," said Marten Youssef, the Tribunal's spokesperson.             

The Pre-Trial Judge issued his order after consulting with the Prosecution, Defence, Presiding JudgeIn jurisdictions with several judges, one of them is usually chosen to direct the management of the court or a chamber within it, usually on a rotating basis. The presiding judge usually chairs a panel of several judges during hearings and supervises the business of the court or chamber (such as overseeing the calendar and chairing meetings of the judges). At the STL, the judges of the Trial Chamber and the Appeals Chamber elect the presiding judge of their respective Chamber. The Presiding Judge of the Appeals Chamber serves as the President of the Tribunal. of the Trial ChamberA division of the court that hears, examines and assesses the evidence presented by the Prosecution and Defence in view to pronouncing an accused's guilt or innocence. , RegistrarThe individual mandated by the Statute of the Tribunal to be responsible for the administration and the servicing of the Tribunal in areas such as its financial and staff resources, witness and victims protection, victims' participation in the legal proceedings, outreach and media relations and President of the STL.           

The rules of the Tribunal require the Pre-Trial Judge to set a tentative date for trial. That date may be subject to change pending further developments, such as the possibility 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 filing 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 to amend the indictmentA formal legal document accusing one or more persons of committing a crime or series of crimes. It is usually read out to the accused at the commencement of the trial before they are asked to plead, i.e. to declare whether they are guilty or not guilty of the crimes alleged against them. , or the arrestThe taking of a suspect, accused, or witness into custody pursuant to an arrest warrant of an 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 .          

It is also subject to the Trial Chamber's decision on the Tribunal's jurisdictionThe area and matters over which a court's legal authority extends. Jurisdiction can pertain to a geographical area, the subject matter of cases, or the nature of parties to a case. The STL has jurisdiction over persons responsible for the attack of 14 February 2005 resulting in the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and the death or injury of other persons. The Tribunal jurisdiction can also be extended beyond the 14 February 2005 attack if the Tribunal finds that other attacks that occurred in Lebanon between 1 October 2004 and 12 December 2005, or any later date decided by Lebanon and the United Nations and with the consent of the UN Security Council, are connected in accordance with the principles of criminal justice and are of a nature and gravity similar to the attack of 14 February 2005 and their rulings on other preliminary motions.             

In issuing the order, the Pre-Trial Judge considered the complexity and the gravity of the case and the need for defense counsel to have enough time to prepare their defence and to conduct their investigations.           

In the meantime, the Pre-Trial Judge intends to continue actively pursuing his mandate to prepare and facilitate a fair and expeditious trial.


STL