The suspects in the extensive liquidation process Marengo may still be physically present at the two sessions that are planned next week, the court of Amsterdam said on Wednesday. Law firm Ficq & Partners said earlier that it would not attend the hearing in protest against the refusal of its clients.
Lawyer Christian Flokstra previously informed NU.nl that the office was limited in defense law and that it had therefore decided to boycott the hearings.
This was partly due to the fact that lawyers had to send in their pleadings in advance so that the hearing could proceed quickly. This had not been discussed with counsel beforehand.
Now that the court has reversed these corona measures, Ficq & Partners will simply be present during the hearings and “conduct the defense in the usual and desired manner”. On May 18 and 19, the cases of the suspects who do not want to be present or want to follow the hearing via a video link will be handled.
The cases of the suspects who will physically take place in the courtroom will follow on 28 and 29 May. “The exact distribution of the cases over the four days will follow,” the court said.
Suspects are enabled with a video connection to follow their case from the penitentiary, but there is a time limit of one hour. Right of presence is a fundamental right of suspects.
In total, seventeen suspects are on trial for suspected participation in a criminal murder organization. Ridouan T. and Said R. are said to have headed and led according to the judiciary.
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