BEIRUT – The Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Thursday morning began its in-absentia trial of four Hezbollah members indicted two years ago for the 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafiq Hariri.
The landmark tribunal will hear opening statements from Prosecutor Normal Farrell, which are expected to last a day or possibly longer.
Follow up-to-the-minute coverage here:
[13:09] The prosecution is explaining the different classes of phones used by the accused to carry out attack. The four classes are: sequential mobile phones, personal mobile phones, color phones and mission phones.
Mission phones were used exclusively for attack, and were not used by the accused to contact people outside the ring of perpetrators.
Color phones were used for attack and other purposes.
[12:58] Prosecution explains telecom data and shows charts related to indicted suspect Mustafa Badreddine’s “green network” of communication with other indicted suspects in case.
[12:58] Prosecution explains telecom data and shows charts related to indicted suspect Mustafa Badreddine’s “green network” of communication with other indicted suspects in case.
[12:55] Prosecution says telecom data “central evidentiary feature” of case.
[12:50] Prosecution says the bomb must have been above ground and in a flatbed truck, not a car because of its size, which was at least 2 tons of RDX.
[12:46] Prosecution says that according to experts, RDX was used as the explosive material. Each kilogram of RDX equals 1.35 kg of TNT.
[12:40] STL restarts proceedings. Prosecution says Mitsubishi van used in explosion sold was sold in Tripoli, adding there are no records of who bought it.
[12:10] Former Lebanon minister Marwan Hamadeh told NOW there is no news on the attempt on his life on October 1, 2004, adding that he is awaiting an STL indictment in the case.
[12:00] Court adjourns for break.
[11:58] STL Prosecutor Normal Farrell takes notes during the proceedings. (AFP/Toussaint Kluiters)
[11:53] Prosecution says Hariri crime scene was disrupted by people and officials trying to help after blast. Hariri was identified by his dental records.
[11:51] Prosecution says 9 members of Hariri’s convoy (including the premier) were killed in the blast, plus bystanders.
[11:47] Prosecution says the force of the explosion threw Hariri out of his car.
[11:42] Prosecution says driver must have been suicide bomber because van moved and driver could not have gotten away, plus Hariri’s convoy had jammers that were working. Also, DNA traces of unknown man found.
[11:40] The prosecutor plays a video clip of people talking in parliament when the blast happened. They can be seen asking if an explosion occurred.
[11:37] Prosecution says Hariri convoy overtaking the white van when it exploded. The explosion was felt in Lebanon’s parliament.
[11:30] Prosecution shows stills from CCTV footage showing the white van moving slowly into place, and afterward the Hariri convoy going by.
[11:24] Prosecution presents a detailed mock-up of the St. George’s intersection where the car bombing occurred.
[11:18] Prosecution describing vehicles in Hariri’s convoy and their driving pattern.
[11:10] Unseen surveillance was ongoing as Hariri left parliament, the white van carrying explosives moved into place right as the premier left parliament. Prosecution shows CCTV footage of van moving into place.
[11:12] Prosecution shows photos of Hariri in parliament and leaving the legislature on the day of his assassination.
[11:11] Prosecution says Hariri was in “good spirits” at parliament the day of the attack.
[11:07] Farrell says the prosecution will rely on witnesses, experts, telecom data and photos.
[11:04] Farrell: Salim Ayyash coordinated surveillance and bought the van used in the explosion.
[11:03] Prosecutor says telephones of people conducting surveillance on Hariri were used from the end of December 2004 until Hariri was killed, saying he was under constant surveillance.
[11:02] The Tribunal’s prosecutor said the attack was prepared well in advance and planned covertly.
[10:58] Farrell said that the accused men will be proven responsible.
[10:56] Farrell said the explosion created a crater 9-12 meters in diameter, adding that the attack targeted Hariri but intended to kill others.
[10:53] Farrell goes on to show photos of the blast site, and explain that the fourth car in Hariri’s convoy was in a direct line from the explosion.
[10:50] Prosecutor Farrell said a suicide bomber with 2,500-3,000 kilograms of explosives killed former Premier Rafiq Hariri on February 14, 2005.
[10:45] STL’s Defense Chief Francois Roux said that he needed to express reservations before the prosecution started its opening statements. However, Tribunal Judge denied the request, allowing Prosecutor Normal Farrell to begin his opening statements.
[10:30] The STL began its trial proceedings.
https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/special-tribunal-for-lebanon/530642-live-coverage-stl-begins-trial
