Lutsenko: trial: Prosecution asks for more time to prepare “new evidence”

 In the second court trial of former Interior Minister and opposition leader Yury Lutsenko, presiding Judge Medushevska has allowed the prosecution’s application for extra time in order to prepare new evidence.  This comes after all evidence has been examined, all witnesses either questioned or – despite protests from Lutsenko and his lawyers – the protocols of their interrogation read out, and the defendants questioned. . The defence says that the prosecution is unable to prove that Lutsenko committed any crime and wants to “prepare” new witnesses.

The judge did not formally consider the prosecution’s application but she did give a break of two full days.

Yury Lutsenko was questioned on Tuesday. He rejected the suggestion that he had been trying to please President Yushchenko by reinstating surveillance.

As reported, Lutsenko is accused of having organized the unlawful surveillance on Valentin Davydenko, driver of the former Deputy Head of the SBU.  Yushchenko had been taken ill in 2004 after dining with SBU people at the dacha of the SBU Deputy Head.  The witnesses called have all stated that they see nothing unlawful in the behaviour.

From information on the Narodna samooborona webiste