THE HAGUE, Apr 18 – The Status Conference at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken off after an initial delay when some of the defence lawyers failed to appear on time for the hearing.
The delay forced the court to adjourn for about 10 minutes to allow the lawyers time to make their way to the court. Presiding Judge of the Pre-Trial Chamber II warned the parties that the court would not tolerate such behaviour.
“I would like to say that I am not satisfied with the way the defence teams are trying to arrange the very diligent representation of the interest of their clients,” Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova said.
However lawyer David Hooper for William Ruto defended the delay saying the lawyers must have lost their way in the building.
“This is a very unfortunate lapse, but they are not aimed, as it were, at the court or in disrespect. This is a matter that has arisen because of general basic difficulties. I don’t know where these two colleagues are and I wish to be granted few more minutes. I am sure they are lost somewhere in this building,” Mr Hooper said.
After the delay of about 10 minutes the lawyers however made their way in and explained to the court that they were blocked from accessing the court room as they tried to gain access.
The proceedings are currently on.
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