News
Wednesday 17 May 2017

Gdim Izik Trial: Withdrawal of Defendants from Trial, Well-studied Plot to Torpedo Trial

Vocal synthesis
Gdim Izik Trial: Withdrawal of Defendants from Trial, Well-studied Plot to Torpedo Trial

Gdim Izik Trial: Withdrawal of Defendants from Trial, Well-studied Plot to Torpedo Trial


The decision of the defendants to withdraw from the Gdim Izik trial is a well-studied plot to torpedo the trial.

This approach, due to its timing at this stage of the trial marked by direct confrontation between witnesses and defendants, is explained by the fact that the the noose is tightening around the defendants.

Faced with witnesses statements that revealed the vile crimes perpetrated against members of the security forces, the defendants thought it is wise to withdraw in order to avoid such a confrontation and the crimes they must respond to.

At Monday’s hearing, the defendants did not hide their will to torpedo the trial through a deliberate strategy, as they threatened to start a hunger strike, before backing off by noting that this will further weaken their legal position.

They then decided to look for escalation by chanting slogans to prevent the hearing of witnesses. The Court also responded favorably to the defense's request to contact the accused.

Although the Court accepted all the defendants' requests, they did not hesitate at Tuesday's hearing to disrupt the trial at the time when the prosecution witnesses were able to identify them.

In some cases they even hindered the conduct of the hearing and refused to confront witnesses, openly challenging the President of the Court's authority in managing the hearing.

Following the resumption of the hearing, the defendants openly attacked one of the witnesses who appeared before the Court at the request of the public prosecutor's office, uttering out invectives against him and chanting slogans with the aim of preventing the hearing. It was at this point that one of the defendants announced the decision to withdraw from the hearing if they were not allowed to contact their lawyers.

The Court acted flexibly and with a view to ensuring the proper conduct of the trial accepted the request, although the law does not allow this kind of discussions inside the courtroom.

Subsequently, the defense announced its withdrawal from the trial, following the decision of the defendants to boycott the trial by refusing to attend the hearings.

The lawyers thanked the Court for the efforts made to ensure that the trial was conducted in an adequate manner and to guarantee all the conditions for a fair trial.

In accordance with the Penal Code, in the case of the withdrawal of a suspect or the boycott of his or her trial, the Court’s President has the ability to warn him and compel him to appear before the court. He is also empowered to consider, in the absence of the defendants, the resumption of the deliberations.

Following this withdrawal, the Court decided to continue the examination of the case and the hearing of the rest of the witnesses, after having assigned four lawyers to defend the suspects in accordance with the provisions of Article 317 of the Penal Code. The two defendants released on bail said they will continue to appear before the court.

MAP 17 May 2017

 

Gdim Izik Defendants Withdraw from Tuesday's Hearing

Defendants sued in the Gdim Izik trial announced their withdrawal from the Tuesday hearing.

The defendants' foreign lawyers decided to stop representing them.

 The court decided to appoint Moroccan lawyers to represent the suspects, as part of legal aid, in accordance with article 423 of the penal code.