From the Liveblog of
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Lawyer for Israelis accused of Cyprus rape says waiting for key probe materials
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Five Israelis accused of gang-raping a British woman in a Cyprus hotel room won’t plead to charges including rape, sexual assault and abduction until prosecutors hand over key material including DNA tests, fingerprints and eyewitness testimony, a lawyer says.
Yannis Habaris, a lawyer representing three of the five Israeli nationals, tells The Associated Press that the judge adjourned the trial until October 16 to give the prosecution enough time to give the material to defense lawyers.
Habaris says DNA results, which prosecutors told the court would be ready within 24 hours, are essential in counseling his clients on the best course of action that should be taken for their defense.
He says without that material, which also includes testimony from one witness who was inside the hotel room at the time of the alleged rape, he would not be in a “position to counsel his clients regarding their plea.”
The Israelis will remain in custody in a Paralimni detention center until their next court appearance. Two of the suspects have a new attorney since their original defense counsel is no longer representing them. Many relatives of the suspects, including parents and uncles, were present in the courtroom.
The Times of Israel Community.