STL Trial in al-Jadeed, Khayat Contempt Case Set for April 2015

The trial of the contempt case against Al-Jadeed S.A.L. and Karma Al Khayat has been scheduled for April 2015, announced the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Thursday.

STL Contempt Judge, Nicola Lettieri ordered the trial to start on April 16, 2015.

Following opening statement(s), the Amicus Prosecutor will present his case-in-chief from April 16 and onwards, as needed.

The Defense shall present its case, if any, from May 12, 2015, added the STL statement.

Karma Mohamed Tahsin Al Khayat and Al-Jadeed S.A.L. are charged with two counts of contempt and obstruction of justice under rule 60 of the Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence.

The initial appearances of the Accused were held on May 13, 2014.

Both the Accused entered a plea of not guilty.

Khayat and al-Akhbar daily's editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin and their media organizations New TV S.A.L. and Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. had been charged with contempt by the tribunal after they disclosed details of alleged STL witnesses.

In April 2013, a list of 167 names of so-called witnesses for the trial of former Premier Rafik Hariri was published by a previously unknown group identified as "Journalists for the Truth."

The group said it wanted to "unveil the corruption" of the STL.

Both al-Akhbar and al-Jadeed published the list.

M.T.

Y.R.