Katsav at court (archives)
צילום: אריק סולטן
Katsav trial to be held 3 times a week
Tel Aviv District Court rejects former president's request for additional hearing, saying 'this is not a dress rehearsal', but reduces number of discussions per week
The Tel Aviv District Court on Wednesday denied a request filed by former President Moshe Katsav's attorneys to hold another hearing on his case. The court decided, however, that the trial - scheduled to open on September 1 - would be held three times a week, instead of four times as originally planned.
Judges George Karra, Miriam Sokolov and Judith Shevach ruled that in light of the Supreme Court's decision to reject an the lawyers' request to resign due to workload, seven court sessions would be canceled "in order to show our consideration for the defense counsels' request."
Thus, at least for the first two months, only three discussions will be held per week, despite the Supreme Court's remarks on the need to hold consecutive discussions every day "so as not to harm the public interest and the defendant's interest."
Katsav's lawyers said they had requested an additional hearing following new evidence received since the previous hearing, which was held more than two years ago, as well as the change in the state prosecutor's role.
The judges wrote, "As we agree that the hearing procedure is not a dress rehearsal for the trial itself, but is supposed to refer only to the main things – as opposed to a detailed reference to one piece of evidence or another – we believe there is no escape from reaching the conclusion that an additional examination of the evidence will be conducted this time by the court."
