The trial of the January 2015 attacks has been extended until November 14 due to the delay in hearing witnesses, the president of the Paris Special Assize Court announced Thursday, October 8.
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This decision was announced by Régis de Jorna to all the lawyers formed within the framework of the trial, which was initially to be held until November 10.
In total, about fifteen hearings had to be postponed since the opening of the proceedings on September 2, due to overload of the hearing or the unavailability of witnesses.
According to the new schedule unveiled by the court, an additional hearing will take place on Saturday, October 24.
The debates are thus extended "
until 11 November inclusive
", with the end of the defense pleadings, said the president, specifying that the court would not meet on 12 November.
The last words of the defendants will take place on November 13, with the verdict expected on Saturday November 14.
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The postponement of several hearings had already led the court to hold an additional hearing on Saturday, October 3.
The president of the court had for a time considered to hold another hearing on Saturday, October 10, before giving up.
At the bar, the lawyer for one of the accused, Me Christian Saint-Palais, was annoyed at the holding of a hearing on November 11, "
a public holiday
".
Elie Korchia, civil party lawyer, regretted for his part that the verdict was rendered on a Saturday.
"
After two months of trial, I think you will understand that it takes a certain time to deliberate
", justified the president, excluding any further extension of the calendar.
"
It will be necessary that the deliberation be rendered on Saturday the 14th in an imperative manner
", he insisted.
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Fourteen people, including three by default, are on trial for their alleged logistical support to the perpetrators of the attacks, the Saïd brothers and Chérif Kouachi and Amédy Coulibaly.
The first of a bloody series in France, these attacks left 17 dead on January 7, 8 and 9, 2015 and caused fear and consternation.
