Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 14, 2006 12:18:12 GMT -5
New evidence in Libyan medic trial appears shaky
At the retrial in Tripoli of six medics accused of infecting 400 children
with HIV, a Libyan court has been hearing evidence from four new
prosecution witnesses.
The 5 Bulgarian nurses, and a Palestinian doctor were originally sentenced
to death by firing squad in 1999 for allegedly, deliberately infecting 426
children with the HIV virus that causes AIDS.
Following an international outcry a Tripoli Court of Appeals overturned
the death sentences and ordered a retrial that began in May.
The new witnesses had apparently taken part in the search of the house of
doctor Zdravko Georgiev and his wife Kristiyana Valcheva in 1999 in the
Libyan town of Benghazi and were testifying to the legality of the search.
After becoming confused by the questions of Libyan defense lawyer Osman
Bizanti, one of the witnesses collapsed.
He had claimed the investigators knew about the 'dangerous' blood banks
even before finding them, but a video showing police confiscating blood
banks from the kitchen in the house revealed the banks, labelled as
containing plasma protein, were empty.
For the first time since the retrial of the six began in May, lawyers have
demanded a payout for the infections, which occurred at a hospital in
Libya's Benghazi city in the late 1990s.
The total compensation demanded would total $4.6 billion.
The United States has supported Bulgaria and the European Union in saying
the medics, in jail in Libya since 1999, are innocent.
The case has hindered a return to normal relations between Libya and the
West after decades of hostility and ostracism.
Libyan officials in meetings with diplomats and charity officials in
January, have informally suggested the nurses could go free if Bulgaria
pays compensation to the children and their families.
Bulgaria has refused to pay, but has agreed to join the United States, the
EU and Libya in the creation of an aid fund for the children of whom 50
have already died.
Public anger in Libya is running high over the case, but analysts say the
offer of aid may give Tripoli a face-saving opportunity to free the
nurses.
The accused medics, Palestinian doctor Ashraf Alhajouj and Bulgarians
Snezhana Dimitrova, Nasya Nenova, Valentina Siropolu, Christiana Valcheva
and Valia Cherveniashka have all denied the charges in both their 1st and
2nd trials and have repeatedly testified that they were tortured to make
them confess.
Their torture claims are supported by Bulgaria and its allies and global
AIDS experts say the outbreak at the Benghazi hospital where they worked
began before they arrived.
The group have now been imprisoned for 7 years and have been repeatedly
refused bail.
The retrial was adjourned to Sept 21.
(source: News-Medical.net)
At the retrial in Tripoli of six medics accused of infecting 400 children
with HIV, a Libyan court has been hearing evidence from four new
prosecution witnesses.
The 5 Bulgarian nurses, and a Palestinian doctor were originally sentenced
to death by firing squad in 1999 for allegedly, deliberately infecting 426
children with the HIV virus that causes AIDS.
Following an international outcry a Tripoli Court of Appeals overturned
the death sentences and ordered a retrial that began in May.
The new witnesses had apparently taken part in the search of the house of
doctor Zdravko Georgiev and his wife Kristiyana Valcheva in 1999 in the
Libyan town of Benghazi and were testifying to the legality of the search.
After becoming confused by the questions of Libyan defense lawyer Osman
Bizanti, one of the witnesses collapsed.
He had claimed the investigators knew about the 'dangerous' blood banks
even before finding them, but a video showing police confiscating blood
banks from the kitchen in the house revealed the banks, labelled as
containing plasma protein, were empty.
For the first time since the retrial of the six began in May, lawyers have
demanded a payout for the infections, which occurred at a hospital in
Libya's Benghazi city in the late 1990s.
The total compensation demanded would total $4.6 billion.
The United States has supported Bulgaria and the European Union in saying
the medics, in jail in Libya since 1999, are innocent.
The case has hindered a return to normal relations between Libya and the
West after decades of hostility and ostracism.
Libyan officials in meetings with diplomats and charity officials in
January, have informally suggested the nurses could go free if Bulgaria
pays compensation to the children and their families.
Bulgaria has refused to pay, but has agreed to join the United States, the
EU and Libya in the creation of an aid fund for the children of whom 50
have already died.
Public anger in Libya is running high over the case, but analysts say the
offer of aid may give Tripoli a face-saving opportunity to free the
nurses.
The accused medics, Palestinian doctor Ashraf Alhajouj and Bulgarians
Snezhana Dimitrova, Nasya Nenova, Valentina Siropolu, Christiana Valcheva
and Valia Cherveniashka have all denied the charges in both their 1st and
2nd trials and have repeatedly testified that they were tortured to make
them confess.
Their torture claims are supported by Bulgaria and its allies and global
AIDS experts say the outbreak at the Benghazi hospital where they worked
began before they arrived.
The group have now been imprisoned for 7 years and have been repeatedly
refused bail.
The retrial was adjourned to Sept 21.
(source: News-Medical.net)