Fransen Approves 58 Victim Applications to Take Part in STL Proceedings

Special Tribunal for Lebanon Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen has determined that 58 of the 73 victims of the February 14, 2005 attack who applied to do so can now participate in the Ayyash et al. proceedings, announced the STL in a statement on Wednesday.

“Fransen has reviewed the 73 victim applications he has received, 15 of which were deemed to be incomplete,” it added.

He has said that he would require additional information before granting the incomplete applications.

“Having thoroughly reviewed the applications of the 58 successful applicants, Fransen has found no reason to divide the victims into different groups,” revealed the statement.

In his decision, he said that he is “required to ensure that the proceedings are not unduly delayed, and to take any measures necessary to prepare the case for a fair and expeditious trial.”

According to the Tribunal’s Rules, it is now up to the registrar to designate a legal representative to represent the victims during trial and as many co-counsel as the registrar feels is appropriate to assist the legal representative, it continued.

Although Fransen’s decision is public, the names and identities of the victims will continue to remain confidential unless and until there is a further court order to the contrary.

Victims of the February 14, 2005 attack who have not yet applied to participate in the proceedings can still apply through the Tribunal’s Victim Participation Unit.

All future applications will also be subject to review by the pre-trial judge.

Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others were killed in a suicide car bomb on February 14, 2005 in Beirut.

According to an STL indictment that was unsealed in August, 231 individuals were injured in the attack.

The indictment accused four Hizbullah members, Salim Ayyash, Mustafa Badreddine, Hussein Oneissi, and Assad Sabra, of being involved in the crime.

Ayyash has been named in the indictment as coordinator of the assassination team.

Ayyash and Badreddine face five charges including that of "committing a terrorist act by means of an explosive device" and homicide, while Oneissi and Sabra faced charges of conspiring to commit the same acts.