Guinea: Short hearing in September 28 trial, defense says it no longer has access to its clients
The trial on 28 September 2009 is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, 28 November. After a 20-minute hearing on Monday, the president of the criminal court of Dixinn decided to postpone the case. And for good reason: the defense lawyers decided to boycott the trial. They say they have not had access to their clients since November 4 and the attack on the Central House. Their work would be made very difficult by the increased security measures.
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Empty chairs in the defendants' box are seen inside the new courthouse in Conakry on September 28, 2022, during the opening of the trial for the September 156 massacre of 2009 people. AFP - CELLOU BINANI
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With our correspondent in Conakry, Matthias Raynal
At the opening of the hearing, the floor was given to the defence lawyers: "Today, there is a real restriction that we do not understand, so we have decided to suspend our participation until these issues are resolved, Mr. Chairman, and thank you."
After 20 minutes, the hearing is suspended with this promise from the Public Prosecutor's Office, measures will be taken to allow the lawyers to prepare their clients' defense in the best conditions. Since 4 November, the Central House has been a real fortress.
Frédéric Loua, director of the NGO The Same Rights for All: "There is no security measure that can violate the most basic rights of the people who are currently deprived of their liberty and who are staying in this prison."
A meeting was held on Monday evening between representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the head of the security forces. And according to Maître Pépé Antoine Lamah, a decision could be made in the next few hours:
«
We intend to see the materialization of the commitments that have been made on both sides to judge the advisability of resuming the hearings and we will, don't we, consult each other and the answers will be legible tomorrow morning."
At the stadium massacre trial, it was the witnesses who were to be called to the stand today.
Read alsoTrial of the September 28 massacre in Guinea: former chief of staff Oumar Sanoh testifies
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