Conscientious Objector Bal’s Case Postponed To February 3

The third hearing for the trial of the four people who wounded and tried to kill conscientious objector Mehmet Bal was held. One of the accused was at the hearing. The other four will be listened at the next hearing.

İstanbul - BİA News Center
30 December 2008, Tuesday

The third hearing for the trial of the four people who wounded and tried to kill conscientious objector Mehmet Bal was held today (December 30).

The case was postponed to February 3 in order to listen to the witnesses who were heard at the first hearing.

The officer told them to do what was needed and the accused did it

After arrested and put into the Hasdal Military prison on June 8, Bal was manhandled by six people who were following the order given by an officer. The officer had told them to do what was needed.

Later Bal filed a complaint against the four people who had attacked him for “attempting at voluntary manslaughter.” He told bianet that one of his attackers was at the hearing today.

Bal also said that since he objected to the fact that these four people gave their statements at the first hearing not known by him, they will give their statements again.

Activists Mehmet Atak and Gürşat Özdamar who were taken into custody for participating in the activity held for Bal on June 11 joined the hearing at the Hasdal Military court, too. They are accused of violating article 318.

The cases against Bal were dismissed

The case against Bal in which he was on trial for disobeying order and deserting ended last week. He was acquitted of both charges. (BÇ/TB)

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