Lawyers for Hariri assassination suspect calls for acquittal

LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands — Lawyers for one of four alleged Hezbollah members accused of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri are calling on judges at a UN-backed tribunal to acquit him, saying prosecutors have not presented enough evidence to convict him.

Tuesday’s call comes after prosecutors wrapped up their case after four years, but before defense attorneys presented any evidence. Lawyers for the three other suspects are not calling for acquittals at this stage of the trial.

None of the four suspects is in custody and the trial at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is progressing in their absence. They are accused of involvement in the February 14, 2005, truck bombing in Beirut that killed Hariri and 21 others. They all deny the charges.

— AP