Lawyers call Wilders’ trial a “farce”

RNW

Two lawyer involved in the discrimination case against anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders say there have been so many irregularities that the trial has become a "farce".

Both Wilders’ defence lawyer Bram Moszkowicz and Gerard Spong, who is representing a number of the plaintiffs in the case, agreed on a news programme on Dutch public television that various members of the court has acted unprofessionally and carelessly.

The reason behind the latest comments is a memo by Supreme Court advocate general Diederik Aben, in which he says the trail judges were wrongfully removed from the case. The television programme reported that the memo was written at the request of Jan Moors, who was one of the judges presiding over the trial.

Mr Moszkowicz challenged the judges because he said they gave the appearance of bias after they refused to allow a expert witness who was in the courtroom to be heard.

The challenge was granted. As a result the controversial trial has to begin again with fresh judges. It is not known when the trial will be held.

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