http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/lawyer-seeks-end-wilders-trialThe retrial against Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders continues today. His lawyer Bram Moszkowicz has presented various arguments explaining why the charges against his client should be dropped.
The same arguments were presented at the original trial last October, which ended prematurely after the defence demanded new judges on the grounds of semblance of bias. Mr Moszkowicz disputes that the Public Prosecutors’ Office has valid reasons for prosecuting his client. He also argues that the Amsterdam court does not have jurisdiction as the offences were not committed in the Dutch capital.
Mr Moszkowicz says the Public Prosecutors’ Office has included too many charges in the indictment. In January 2009, an Amsterdam court ruled that the Public Prosecutors’ Office should prosecute the Freedom Party leader for three charges. These were for incitement to hatred, incitement to discrimination and ‘group insult’.
Initially the Public Prosecutors’ Office said it did not believe Mr Wilders’ statements merited legal proceedings. The Public Prosecutors’ Office will react to Mr Moszkowicz’s opening plea on Wednesday. At the original trial, the Public Prosecutors’ Office demanded an acquittal.
Back in October, Mr Moszkowicz had already presented his closing arguments, when he decided to recuse the court because he doubted the impartiality of one of its judges. His doubts were raised after the court refused to hear a witness, following newspaper reports that the same witness had attended a dinner which was also attended by one of the court’s judges. As a result, the judges were replaced and a retrial called.
The court will announce on 30 March whether it will accept Mr Moszkowicz’s arguments and dismiss the charges or continue with the trial.
Topic: Lawyer seeks to end Wilders trial (Read 382 times)