NNA - 

Following the pronouncement of the Judgment rendered by the Appeals Chamber on the sentence in the case of The Prosecutor v. Merhi and Oneissi (STL-11-01), the Head of Defence Office of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Ms Dorothée Le Fraper du Hellen, wishes to thank Defence Counsel and their teams for the considerable amount of work that they have done since being assigned to ensure the effective representation of the interests and rights of Messrs Merhi and Oneissi. She would also like to extend her thanks to all Defence Counsel and the members of their teams who have appeared before the STL over the years.

Ms Le Fraper du Hellen recalls the major challenges that Defence Counsel have had to face in the STL-11-01 case, including the defence of the interests and rights of the Accused in the context of an in absentia trial, as well as the volume of the case file and its complexity in terms of the technical evidence.

Ms Le Fraper du Hellen also wishes to highlight the essential role played by the Defence Office as a statutory independent organ protecting the rights of the Defence. Considered by many practitioners of international criminal law as one of the best practices for future institutions, the Defence Office acted in accordance with its mandate to strengthen equality of arms with the Office of the Prosecutor and to provide all necessary legal, financial and logistical support for the defence teams.

Ms Le Fraper du Hellen also reaffirms her gratitude to the State of Lebanon for the support that it has provided to the work of the Defence before the Tribunal. Ms Le Fraper du Hellen also extends her thoughts to the victims and more widely to the Lebanese people on this day, which marks the completion of the judicial proceedings in the STL 11-01 case.

On behalf of the Defence Office, Ms Dorothée Le Fraper du Hellen would like to pay tribute to the work of all those who have provided their support to the Defence over the years in the STL 11-01 case, and more broadly in the other cases before the Tribunal, as well as to all the sections of the Tribunal which have contributed to the work of justice. -- Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)

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