Hearings Postponed Due to Witness’ Failing Health

by Christine Evans, Clinical Fellow, Center for International Human Rights, Northwestern University School of Law (JD and LLM)
— 9 Dec, 2011

The ECCC Trial Chamber postponed its evidentiary hearings in Trial 0002 today due to the ill health of prosecution witness Long Norin. After initially telling the public and parties that the proceedings would begin an hour late as officials attempted to ascertain the witness’s status, the judges then called the court to order shortly after 9 a.m. President Nil Nonn informed the parties that, due to the grave health of Long Norin, he would be unable to resume his testimony today. The president then adjourned the court for the weekend, provoking much groaning and grumbling among those outside the courtroom. A number of observers wondered why the court had chosen not to continue Nuon Chea’s testimony, despite his presence in the courtroom this morning.

Due to the observation of International Human Rights Day on Monday, the proceedings in Trial 002 are postponed until Tuesday, 13 December 2011. Long Norin is scheduled to resume his testimony on this date, with the continuation of Nuon Chea’s questioning as a back-up plan…

Cambodia Tribunal Monitor’s Trial Observer posts are written according to the personal observations and opinions of the writer and do not constitute a transcript of ECCC proceedings or the views of Cambodia Tribunal Monitor and/or its partners. Official court transcripts for the ECCC’s hearings may be accessed at the ECCC website.