STL Registrar Appoints Counsel for Participating Victims

Herman von Hebel, Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, has designated one lead counsel and two co-counsel to represent the victims of the February 14, 2005 attack in the Ayyash et al. proceedings, the court said in a statement on Wednesday.

Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen decided on May 8 to grant 58 people the right to participate as victims in the proceedings as one group.

The court said the Registrar designated the following as legal representatives of the group:

Peter Haynes, a British national admitted to the Bar Council of England and Wales as lead legal representative;

Mohammed Mattar, a Lebanese national admitted to the Beirut Bar Association as co-legal representative; and

Nada Abdul Sater, a Lebanese national admitted to the Beirut Bar Association as co-legal representative.

“The three counsel have been selected on the basis of their relevant experience, skills and their competence, including experience in Lebanon or international tribunals,” said the STL.

“These appointments were made by the Registrar in consultation with the Victims’ Participation Unit (VPU). The co-counsel were appointed after discussions with the lead counsel. The counsel were selected from a list compiled by the VPU,” it added.