ADDIS ABABA, 17 December 2009 (Somalilandpress) According to ABC television, the two Somali pirates from the Alakrana [Spanish fishing boat hijacked off Somalia from October] who are remanded in custody in Madrid have decided to drop their defence lawyers calling him unqualified.
In a hand-written letter signed by both pirates and handed over to the management of the prison (of Soto del Real [Madrid Province]), the two requested a new defence attorny, although in the
document they only name Diaz Aparicio and not Begona Castro [female], the lawyer of “Raageggesey Adji Haman”.
Judicial sources say that the National High Court Criminal Chamber has urged the pirates to appoint new lawyers, with the warning that if they do not appoint a new attorny that the court will appoint counsel for them.
In statement to ABC, the lawyer Diaz Aparicio said that he does not accept the “line of defence” proposed to him by his client and which he did not wish to reveal because “making it public would harm” the
two defendants. Another concern factor for him is the procedural times because the crew of the Alakrana are still being held hostage. It appears that this case will not be going to trial till early March of 2010.
No surprise
Although he has not been [officially] informed of his client’s decision, Diaz Aparicio says that he has been aware of it for “two weeks”, when he met “Abdu Willy” and his partner in crime for the last time. Both face sentences of more than 200 years’ imprisonment for 36 crimes of illegal detention and one aggravated robbery involving use of weapons.
By Abdinasir Mohamed
Somalilandpress
Email: abdinasir4@gmail.com
Mogadishu-Somalia
