Turkey

Noisy courtroom derails trial

Article published on the 2008-10-20 Latest update 2008-10-20 16:39 TU

Kemal Alemdaroglu, one of the 86 defendants
(Credit: Reuters)

A Turkish court erupted in chaos on Monday as 86 people faced charges that they were trying to overthrow the conservative government. Minutes after the trial opened lawyers protested that they could not work properly in the noisy courtroom that included the defendants, supporters of the accused, spectators and a large number of journalists.

"I have been doing this job for 30 years and never saw such conditions," said one of the lawyers. Others complained that there wasn't even enough table space to use their laptop computers. The charge sheet of the 86 accused is 2,455 pages long.

Those charged are part of the Ergenekon group, a hardline secularist group. The indictment cites the group responsible for two attacks in 2006 -- an armed assault on a high court that resulted in the death of a judge, and the bombing of the Cumhuriyet newspaper offices.

A brief pause was declared amid the courtroom cacophony so that the court could decide how to proceed. It was decided that the first 46 suspects would give their testimonies, while the others would come before a separate hearing.

Defence lawyers demanded that one of the judges be removed, citing bias, and called for the total dismissal of the court. The court is adjourned until Thursday so the defence's points can be considered. 

Among the charges levied against the 86 include membership of a terrorist group, and instigating an armed uprising against the government, as well as illegally possessing weapons.

The accused include retired army officers, politicians, journalists, and even underworld figures.

The prosecution argues that the suspects have tried to stir up political turmoil in order to topple the conservative, Islamist-leaning AKP ruling party.