Order of the Assize Court of Palermo, 9 October 2014

This order was occasioned by the testimony made by the Head of the State Napolitano under Article 205 of the code of criminal procedure in the proceeding instituted before the Assize Court of Palermo following investigation on so called “State-mafia” affaire. Two of the accused (Mr Riina and Mr Bagarella), as well the legal representative of the Association of Relatives of Victims of the ‘via dei Georgofili’ massacre, filed an application for being authorized to be present in person at the time of the testimony. For the Assize Court, however, the presence of the defense lawyers was sufficient to guarantee respect for the principle of fair trial and the rights of the defense in accordance with Article 6 of the ECHR.