Ofer - Public Hearing

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Observers: 
Hava Halevi, Mili Mass (reporting)
Feb-1-2012
|
Morning

Translation: Marganit W.

Justice Ronen Atzmon’s Court

We sat through the session; only at the end did the prosecutor inform the judge that a gag order had been issued for this case. The report I wrote had to be shelved.

 

The hearing in the case of Abdul Rahman Zayid:

Before the hearing began, the sister (or mother) of the accused threw him a hat from where she was sitting at the back of the hall. The judge ordered her out of the court. A few minutes later she was readmitted, only to be taken out again a short time later (I did not see what she had done this time). She was later let in and stayed until the end of this unusual hearing.

Atty. Mahmid opened with a plea for open public hearing reminding the court of the need to hold hearings with the families of the accused present. The judge seemed not to understand the point. The attorney reported that on 29.1.12 a hearing took place where the family was not admitted into the court, and he himself was not informed of the hearing. As for today’s hearing, he had only been notified the day before. The judge wanted to know how come the family was informed of the court hearing, while the attorney was not, but the attorney had no explanation. He reiterated that Baruch Marzel and his gang are allowed in court – by dint of the public’s right to know – where they are rowdy and disruptive, but the family of the accused and he himself are not informed of the date of the trial of their case.

The judge showed the defense a record of phone calls made to his office, which were not answered, and faxes that were sent on time. The attorney retorted that the list was fabricated and angrily declared that he would not represent the defendant.

The court noted his statement and instructed the defendant to find another attorney. If he does not, the court will appoint him one.

Next hearing set for 4.3.12.

The defendant sat with an inscrutable expression on his face. His father and sister (?) left the court when the “hearing” was over.