STL Schedules Appeals Hearing in Merhi-Oneissi Case for October

The Appeals Chamber of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) has scheduled an appeals hearing to take place from 4 to 8 October 2021 in the case of Prosecutor v. Merhi and Oneissi, the STL said on Monday.

The case relates to the 14 February 2005 attack in Beirut that killed 22 people including former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and injured 226 others.

In a Scheduling Order issued on 12 July 2021, the Appeals Chamber stated that it will hear oral arguments from the Prosecutor, Defense Counsel for Hizbullah suspects Hassan Habib Merhi and Hussein Hassan Oneissi (the Parties), and the Legal Representatives of the Victims (LRV), or may invite them to clarify arguments developed in their written submissions and observations in relation to the Appeal filed by the Prosecutor against the Trial Judgment.

The Chamber authorized the LRV to attend the Appeal hearing and to make oral submissions in relation to issues that affect the victims’ personal interests.

Following the conclusion of the hearing, the Judges will withdraw to deliberate and will render their Judgment on Appeal in due course, the STL said, noting that the Judgment shall be pronounced publicly at a later stage.