Leidschendam, 11 July 2012 – The Trial Chamber has rejected motions by the defence counsel for the four accused to suspend or reconsider in absentia proceedings.

The defence counsel had argued in their motions that in absentia trials are a violation of human rights and that the accused were not properly notified of the charges against them.

"The Trial Chamber, however, cannot find any new facts, or new arguments showing an error of legal reasoning necessitating a reconsideration of its Decision of 1 February 2012 to avoid an injustice to any of the four Accused," the Judges said in their decision.

The Trial Chamber decided on 1 February to try the four accused in their absence.

The STL's Statute is based on a mixture of Lebanese and international law, and therefore allows for in absentia proceedings if the accused absconds.