Ali Riza Polat is the only accused present in the box to be suspected of complicity in crimes.

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Benoit PEYRUCQ / AFP

The trial of the January 2015 attacks will not resume until at least November 16.

The president of the Paris special assize court announced a first two-day suspension after the main defendant, Ali Riza Polat, tested positive for Covid-19 on October 31.

It had been increased to "at least a week" after the positive results last weekend of two other defendants, among the ten appearing before the court.

Tuesday, the suspension of the hearing was extended until November 12, at a minimum.

The president informed the lawyers in this case on Friday evening that because of "the health recommendations relating to the detained defendants already tested positive, it appears that the trial could not resume either on Thursday 12 November or Friday 13 November 2020", according to the Pnat.

"We are also waiting for the results of the tests to be carried out again on the other defendants initially tested negative", specified the Pnat.

The hearing schedule should be turned upside down again

"As a result, and to this day, the date for the resumption of the trial remains undetermined," said the president of the court, Régis de Jorna, in an email to the defense and civil party lawyers.

Before the first suspension, the end of the pleadings of the civil parties was scheduled for November 4, preceding the indictment and the defense pleadings.

The verdict was expected on November 13.

Our file on the January 2015 attacks 

"I am scandalized by the duration of the scenario set up for this trial, which necessarily risked being interrupted in this period of significant contagion, and which deprives the defense of demonstrating the innocence" of the defendants, declared the lawyer for Ali Riza Polat, Me Isabelle Coutant-Peyre.

“We made Ali Riza Polat risk life threatening, who is still very ill,” a week after being tested positive, she also denounced.

Justice

January 2015 attacks: Many questions pending after the discovery of a cluster at the Special Assize Court

Justice

January 2015 attacks: The main defendant's positive Covid-19 test leads to the suspension of the hearings

  • Covid 19

  • Justice

  • Coronavirus

  • Trial of the January attacks