Second Day STL Trial of 4 Suspects Details Hours before, After Hariri's Assassination

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon held a second day of deliberations on Friday in the trial of four Hizbullah suspects in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 14, 2005 assassination.

The STL held its first in absentia hearing at the Hague on Thursday.

The suspects were absent as they have not been arrested. Hizbullah denies involvement in the murder and the group's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has denounced the court as a conspiracy by his archenemies — the U.S. and Israel.

The four suspects are Mustafa Badreddine, Salim Ayyash, Assad Sabra and Hassan Oneissi.

A fifth Hizbullah member, Hassan Habib Merhi, was indicted later than the other four suspects and is not currently on trial.

The prosecution's case is made up of evidence including large amounts of data from mobile phones allegedly used by the plotters to plan and execute the suicide car bombing on the Beirut seafront.

Evidence showed that several phone users closely monitored Hariri in several areas in the last few days before his assassination.

From the time Hariri emerged from parliament on Feb. 14 at noon, six co-conspirators were moving in and around parliament and between the parliament and the crime scene and at the crime scene, it said.

Ayyash called Badreddine using the Green Network. He connected with a cell site at the crime scene while Badreddine was in Beirut's southern suburbs. This was the last time the phones were used.

The prosecution also said that the northern city of Tripoli was chosen as a location to buy the Mitsubishi van that was loaded with the explosives because it is 84 kilometers away from Beirut and is majority Sunni.

So is Abou Adas who made the false claim of responsibility for the attack through a tape broadcast on al-Jazeera.

“This is aimed at keeping a false trail,” it said.

Merhi, Sabra and Oneissi were responsible for the calls to Reuters and al-Jazeera on the claim, the prosecution told the court.

The upper level of the hierarchy of the operation to kill Hariri included Badreddine, Ayyash and Merhi for whom others worked, it said.

The prosecution expected evidence to show there was a family bond between Ayyash and Badreddine. Plus, all suspects lived close to one another.

This type of operation, sophisticated as it was, required a division of responsibilities led by Badreddine, it said.

He directed Ayyash and Merhi, while Ayyash was responsible for the command of the surveillance team, it added.

Timeline
  • 17 January 2014, 13:27

    Legal representatives of the victims will start their deliberations at the court at 3:00 pm Beirut time.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:22

    The prosecution: The cruelty of these men was shown through how they lured Abou Adas so that they would not be blamed.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:21

    Badreddine is a virtually untraceable person in Lebanon while the others were more simple people.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:20

    Hundreds of calls have been made between the four suspects.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:20

    I expect evidence to show there was a family bond between Ayyash and Badreddine. All suspects also lived close to one another.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:18

    The suspects felt trust in one another.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:17

    Prosecution: This type of operation, sophisticated as it was, required a division of responsibilities led by Badreddine.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:10

    There were approximately 50 days of surveillance of Hariri, the prosecution said.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:07

    The upper level of the hierarchy of the operation to kill Hariri included Badreddine, Ayyash and Merhi for whom others worked.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:06

    Abou Adas did not know how to drive a car, the prosecution said.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:05

    The delivery of the tape to al-Jazeera was the last part of the 5th stage of the conspiracy.

  • 17 January 2014, 13:00

    Merhi, Sabra and Oneissi were responsible for the calls to the media on the false claim of responsibility.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:59

    Several phones were abandoned in the days after the assassination.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:56

    Several calls were made to Reuters and al-Jazeera to make the false claim of responsibility for the attack.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:49

    The truck moved slowly as shown on HSBC camera. At 12:55 pm the explosives were detonated.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:46

    At 12:51 CCTV footage from Phoenicia hotel showed the truck heading to the blast scene.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:46

    Subject 8 who was in the best spot to monitor Hariri's moves made 3 phones to S7, who had just moved to the area of the crime scene, to Ayyash and to S9.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:44

    Hariri left the cafe and took his car to head to Qoreitem. At that same minute subject 9 called subject 8.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:43

    When Hariri was in the cafe. The subjects remained in their locations.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:38

    Subject 7 followed the path of the truck but subject 5 stayed near the area of the tunnel that leads to the blast site.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:37

    During the 16-minute period, several subjects made phone calls to delay the truck.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:36

    At 11:54 am when Hariri emerged from parliament and walked across Place de l'Etoile the truck was in the area of the blast. But Hariri chatted with people outside and entered the cafe and stayed there for 16 minutes.

  • 17 January 2014, 12:33

    The deliberations resumed after the short break.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:57

    The STL trial took a 30 minutes break.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:57

    Ayyash called Badreddine using the Green Network. He connected with a cell site at the crime scene while Badreddine was in Beirut. This was the last time the phones were used.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:56

    At 11:57 am, subject 5 called Ayyash.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:56

    36 seconds after the call, the white truck was recorded on CCTV cameras exiting the tunnel near the crime scene.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:53

    Subject 6 and 9 communicated when Hariri emerged from parliament.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:53

    From the time Hariri emerged from parliament at noon, the six co-conspirators were moving in and around parliament and between the parliament and the crimes scene and at the crime scene.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:49

    15 seconds after his call to Red subject 8, Ayyash called Red subject 9 at 11:49 am who was near parliament. At 11:50, red subject 5 called subject 7 both now in the area to the south of parliament.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:47

    Ayyash called subject 8 who was near Qoreitam palace but had then moved to an area close to the crime scene.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:46

    Blue subject 5 also set aside the phone and switched to Red network.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:46

    Blue subject 5 went about 2 kilometers south of the parliament. Ayyash had alos moved just northeast of the parliament. This was the last time he had used his Blue phone and used Green or Red phones.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:45

    Ayyash who was near the Parliament called a Blue phone and seconds later at 11:35am a Blue phone called another Blue phone and the 2 connected with the same cell site tower.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:43

    Red Network phones were near the area of Qoreitem on Feb. 14. On 11 am Hariri had reached parliament. At 11:30 am Ayyash was near the parliament and called a suspect on the Red Network.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:39

    The Blue Phones were used in Beirut's southern suburbs in an unusual activity on Feb. 13.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:33

    Ayyash made a series of Blue Network calls after going to the area of the parliament and the blast scene.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:32

    Evidence should show that 3 co-conspirators including Ayyash made a surveillance of Hariri in Badaro.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:31

    Feb. 12 was the last day that the Blue and Red Networks engaged in surveillance.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:30

    When Hariri returned to Qoreitem, a number of co-conspirators including Ayyash took the same route. Then Ayyash and Badreddine held phone conversations.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:30

    On Feb. 8, Hariri attended a parliament session. Ayyash and other Red Network users were in the area of the parliament.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:29

    Hariri returned to Lebanon on Feb. 7. He was away since Feb. 4.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:27

    Merhi, Oneissi and Sabra had minimal communication through the Purple Network until 26. Jan.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:24

    The two men bought the Mitsubishi. The probe revealed that the number they gave the salesman belonged to someone who was never in Tripoli.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:23

    In the afternoon of 25 Jan. two men attended the car dealership in Tripoli to inquire about the Mitsubishi. The salesmen had never seen either of them. They had accents dissimilar to the northern Lebanese.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:18

    None of the 3 co-conspirators used their Purple phones to contact each other at the end of Jan. They used them shortly after the assassination of Hariri on Feb. 14.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:16

    A caller told Abou Adas' family that he would be back to clean the carpet in the house. On the evening of the same day on Jan. 17, the family received a 2nd call saying Abou Adas wanted to go to Iraq and never come back.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:14

    Abou Adas departed his house on Jan. 16 saying he would be back. He left all of his possessions including a copy of the Koran. He wasn't ever seen again.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:14

    Prosecution: The evidence should show that on evening of Jan. 14 “Mohammed” called Abou Adas' residence. He told his family that so-called Mohammed would pick him up the next day because he had a surprise for him.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:09

    On Jan. 13, Merhi called Badreddine and the discussion lasted for an unusual 20 minutes.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:05

    The prosecution said the Red Network phones were only used once in Beirut's southern suburbs.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:03

    The 8 phones of the Red Network purchased and activated in Tripoli were used in a disciplinary manner.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:03

    The 8 Red Network phones were used in Tripoli, Beirut and Faraya.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:02

    Tripoli was chosen because it is 84 kilometers away from Beirut and its majority of inhabitants are Sunnis. Abou Adas is also Sunni. This is aimed at keeping a false trail.

  • 17 January 2014, 11:00

    The prosecution said the Red Network phones began working to closely monitor Hariri days before his assassination.

  • 17 January 2014, 10:59

    The prosecution said the fourth stage of the plot began on January 14.

  • 17 January 2014, 10:58

    Abou Adas was chosen as a scapegoat, the prosecution said.

  • 17 January 2014, 10:56

    The surveillance of Hariri increased in January 2005.

  • 17 January 2014, 10:55

    The prosecution said the Mitsubishi van was put for sale in the area of al-Beddawi in Tripoli. It was bought in January 2005.

  • 17 January 2014, 10:47

    Oneissi was in several areas of south Beirut and southern Lebanon on January 5, 2005.

  • 17 January 2014, 10:44

    The Legal Rep. for Victims noted that a 9th individual joined the victims today. He is sitting behind the Pros. reps for logistical reasons.

  • 17 January 2014, 10:39

    The prosecution said that on Dec. 31, 2004 there were more than 30 calls between Oneissi, Sabra and Merhi.

  • 17 January 2014, 10:39

    The prosecution said contact between Sabra and Oneissi were intermittent with Abu Adas.

  • 17 January 2014, 10:37

    The prosecution said that during Thursday's session, it reached the third out of the five stages of the plot to assassinate Hariri.

Comments 31
Thumb Chupachups 17 January 2014, 11:01

Ok now we wait and watch

Missing imagine_1979 17 January 2014, 11:06

Indeed dear chupachups...
I think a lot of people here will be in need of a huge amout of chupachups those days...
Justice is on its way, slowely but surely...
May all our martyrs rest in peace...

Thumb _mowaten_ 17 January 2014, 18:35

among the widely unnoticed discoveries of yesterday:

"The Prosecution: The van was sold in Tripoli in January 2005. No evidence on the person who purchased it."

"The Red Network included 8 pre-paid SIM cards. The identities of the purchasers were not known. They were bought in Tripoli."

"No info concerning identity is provided by the purchasers of the Blue Network cards."

"The prosecution said the green network phones were purchased by nine false identity cards."

...

hang on for the next episode, where they reveal "the content of some SMSes" that gave them the identity.
"hi Mustafa Baddreddine, let's commit a crime! signed: Salim Ayyash. PS: keep this a secret yea?"

Thumb geha 17 January 2014, 11:32

it is now evident that hizbushaitan efforts to drag Tripoli into becoming a war zone since then!

why buy the truck from there? why buy the phones from there? why ....

and they say they are preventing sectarian strife?

Thumb Mystic 17 January 2014, 12:10

Same lines, same accusations. When they find out that the suspects are innocent, then they will blame Santa Cluz.

The 4 Generals which were good soldiers and patriots lost years of their lives, because of false accusations. I do understand why the people indicted, wont turn themselves in.

Thumb Mystic 17 January 2014, 12:12

Saying anyone from Hezbollah comitted the crime, might aswell blame Santa Claus, since it is a fantasy.

Default-user-icon Goerges (Guest) 17 January 2014, 12:24

Its Santa Claus....but anyway I appreciate the humor.

If indeed those general lost years of their lives and are innocent then they should sue the state and the tribunal.

But i have little sympathy because under their watch we had many Lebanese disappear and/or end up Syria. They were patriots to Syria and not Lebanon.

Thumb ice-man 17 January 2014, 12:35

if you say so.

Missing imagine_1979 17 January 2014, 12:55

Yes hezbos are saints never murdered anyone, in fact it is a charity organisation...
Bravo mystic..
Just one thing it must be and israely/wahabi/imperialist/takfiri santa cluz...
Plus one for u mystic... Justice on its way...

Thumb ice-man 17 January 2014, 13:08

Mystic is subject 7.

Thumb _mowaten_ 17 January 2014, 18:37

geha you're skipping just a tiny step: proving that hezbollah bought the truck and phones. note: your sectarian inner voice is not proof.

Thumb Chupachups 17 January 2014, 12:03

Flamey, care for a chupachup? ..and hand me the chips.

Thumb terminator 17 January 2014, 13:01

I'm having homemade strawberry shortcake flavored protien ice cream ....help your self , it's healthy

Thumb Chupachups 17 January 2014, 12:03

:) imagine, take a chupschup my friend

Missing imagine_1979 17 January 2014, 12:57

Thx bro... I have been taking chupachups for a long time now... (Like most of us) but maybe mystic/FT/roar/mouwaten/sagh and co.. Care for some now...

Thumb ice-man 17 January 2014, 14:00

All indications say you do and excessively. LOL

Thumb ex-fpm 17 January 2014, 14:07

hahahaha!

Thumb primesuspect 17 January 2014, 14:41

my favorite brand is chupamela.

So I say..... chupamela!

Thumb ice-man 17 January 2014, 12:21

(chuckles at Flamethrower's comment as Flamethrower claims he never watches TV)

Thumb ice-man 17 January 2014, 12:37

Flamethrower: You sound to me like Subject 5!

Thumb geha 17 January 2014, 13:05

I cannot read more or view more.
this is really damning to hizbushaitan.

and you have idiots like mystic to try to repeat what he was taught for months, instead of finally have the decency to acknowledge he has been fooled by the lies of hizbushaitan.

if they have a shred of honor, they would deliver the wanted guys immediately.

Missing imagine_1979 17 January 2014, 13:11

If...

Thumb IndependentThinker 17 January 2014, 13:07

All this would have never happened without the consent or help instigation from Syria & Hezb. These guys were just obeying orders & supported by the big decision makers.

It's a joke that we had to wait 9 years & agonize over this, while this was all known within months or weeks following the murder. In the meantime, the same murderers of the other victims are the loose and not punished.

Missing imagine_1979 17 January 2014, 13:14

The political accusation was made since then.. Now it is the turn of justice... 9 years are not long on the humanity scale...
It is just the beggining, it will need more time, but at leat justice is on its way, slowely but surely...

Thumb primesuspect 17 January 2014, 15:43

Jajajaja pero creo q flame le encantaria hacerlo tmb.

Thumb primesuspect 17 January 2014, 15:45

Israhell is partially innocent of this crime, except that they r bashar's allies. So they r guilty anyway....

Missing helicopter 17 January 2014, 15:50

The prosecution also said that the northern city of Tripoli was chosen as a location to buy the Mitsubishi van that was loaded with the explosives because it is 84 kilometers away from Beirut and is majority Sunni. So is Abou Adas who made the false claim of responsibility for the attack through a tape broadcast on al-Jazeera.“This is aimed at keeping a false trail,” it said. ........................... and recently they repeated the same deception with Shattah's assassination where they processed the booby trapped car through a Palestinian camp in Sidon (same plot).

Missing imagine_1979 17 January 2014, 15:52

Waw... Even better that saint geoges beach owner who killed hariri for the port access... Waleed what a fabulous theory... Keep it up bro, plus one for u, trial had began after all...

Thumb shab 17 January 2014, 20:06

loool

Default-user-icon no comment (Guest) 17 January 2014, 20:25

hezbollah helping syria is not a crime it is for the good of lebanon's future unless you care more about zionists achieving their plans in the region. this trial led by the New york based United Nations, which is also on the borders in the south of lebanon, helps zionists achieve their goals as well. and yes, I am assuming that new york or the US, is working with zionists in Israel and all around the world. I am just wondering, if I, a lebanese man, know a syrian man in lebanon, pay him some money to go and do a job for me, does this mean that the Syrian goverment is to blame? we know how well of backstabbers arabs are, and how selfish they can be. we are all hypocrites who do not really care about Lebanon, because we are closed minded, religious and political fanatics.

Thumb IndependentThinker 18 January 2014, 00:11

You sound so intelligent, you should have gone to the Hague and help the defense with your arguments.

Why do you always blame Israel for everything? They are laughing at us because we keep bickering and we are not united. They don't have to do anything to weaken us. We are already doing it to ourselves because we keep leaning on outsiders. There is nothing Iranian in Lebanon's history, so I don't see why they are playing a role and want to change Lebanon's future. Lebanon wants to be a modern, democratic, open, economically strong country, but Hezb/Syria/Iran want to keep sending us to the dark ages. Enough of that charade. Stop insulting the intelligence of Lebanese, or brainwashing them. Your game is up. Totally. Enough blackmail.