Martin Balluch (Image via Wikipedia)
Final speeches at the beginning of April, verdict on 2nd May! No defence witnesses to be heard.
In court this week Judge Arleth dropped the bombshell that she will not be proceeding with the trial for much longer and intends to bring it to a close as soon as possible. It seems that prosecution witnesses who have not yet been questioned by the defence will not be asked to return to the witness box. Instead court time is being taken up by the reading out of final police reports until 9 o’clock in the evening every day from now on! This late hour is also planned for the final speeches in order for the verdict to be given on the 2nd of May. This unexpected turn of events also means that none of the 300 witnesses for the defence will be called!
Since the beginning of February 2011 there have been no police cadets taking up seats in the public viewing gallery and this week it was announced that visitors to the trial will no longer be required to show identification. There is also no longer any police presence in the courtroom
Spokesperson for VGT DDr. Martin Balluch commented: ”We are extremely happy to hear that this trial will finally come to an end. With no more police cadets in the viewing gallery and visitors no longer having to show ID, things are starting to get a bit more normal. Someone should have put a stop to this absurd business a long time ago. Presentation of the charge alone has obviously been enough for the court to reach a verdict: it has become apparent that there is no evidence to support the accusation. ”
That the trial will come to a close without the defence even having to put forward its arguments is very telling.
Source: Verein gegen Tierfabriken
