STL Trial Chamber adjourns hearings in the Ayyash et al. trial

The Trial Chamber at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued a written decision yesterday, 25 February, following the oral ruling of 11 February on the joinder of the Merhi case to the Ayyash et al. case.

In their ruling, the Judges ordered the adjournment of the trial sessions until at least early to mid-May to allow Defence counsel for Hassan Habib Merhi adequate time to prepare for trial and to conduct their own investigations.

In the meantime, the Trial Chamber will hold regular meetings and Status Conferences with the parties to ensure an expeditious process. The decision elaborates on the oral order taken by the Trial Chamber on Tuesday 11 February 2014 to join the two cases.

"The Trial Chamber therefore concluded that joining the two proceedings (Ayyash and Merhi) would better protect the rights of all five Accused to a fair and expeditious trial, provided that certain measures were taken," the decision stated. "Joinder was therefore ordered on the basis that the Trial Chamber would take-and will continue to take, as necessary-all the measures required to ensure a fair trial for all five Accused."

All of the five Accused are indicted for their alleged role in the 14 February 2005 attack.

STL Spokesperson Marten Youssef will hold a briefing in Beirut on Thursday 27 February 2014 to address questions from the media on this matter. The briefing will take place at the Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut at 11 AM.