STL's Fransen Sets Jan. 13 as New Tentative Date for Start of Trial

Special Tribunal for Lebanon Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen on Friday issued an order setting January, 13 2014 as a new “tentative date” for the start of the trial in the 2005 assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri and his companions, the STL said in a statement.

The rules of the tribunal require Fransen to set a tentative date, “which could change based on judicial developments,” the STL noted.

“The next phase requires the Pre-Trial Judge to refer the case to the Trial Chamber judges, who set the final date for the trial,” it added.

Earlier this year, Fransen postponed the tentative trial date concluding that the parties were not ready for trial due to a number of reasons including lack of adequate time for disclosure of material to the defense counsel.

He indicated in his Friday decision that most of these issues have since been addressed and a new provisional date for the trial “can now be set.”