Defense plea in Theys trial rejected

SURABAYA, East Java: Military prosecutors rejected on Friday a defense plea by lawyers of seven Army Special Forces (Kopassus) members charged with murdering Papuan separatist leader Theys Hiyo Eluay.

Chief investigator Col. Haryanto said the objections presented by the defendants' lawyers were part of the legal subjects that the judges should examine.

"Therefore, let the judges prove whether Theys was murdered by the suspects or another party," he told a hearing at the East Java military tribunal.

Haryanto argued that the decrease in number of witnesses to testify in the murder trial was actually normal because it was impossible for the prosecutors to bring in all the witnesses.

"We shall use only key witnesses," he said.

The lawyers have said that there were 40 witnesses who would testify for or against the defendants, but the prosecutors will only use 21 of them.

The trial was adjourned until Jan. 24. --JP