France Link

Charlie Hebdo attack trial suspended after defendant catches Covid-19

The trial of 14 people accused of complicity in the January 2015 attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine and which was due to end on November 13th has been suspended after one of the principal suspects, Ali Riza Polat, tested positive for Covid-19.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

The primary suspect in a trial over the 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre has tested positive for coronavirus and the court has been suspended until Wednesday, reports FRANCE 24.

Ali Riza Polat is accused of having helped the killers of 12 people in the 2015 attack on satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, a female police officer a day later and four hostages at a Jewish supermarket.

He is facing the most serious charge of the suspected accomplices on trial -- complicity in terrorist crimes -- and could face life in jail if convicted.

The 35-year-old vomited and was seen by a doctor, prompting the judge to suspend the court until next week.

The accused accomplices must now be tested and "the resumption of the trial will depend on the results of these tests and the development of the health of the people concerned", presiding judge Regis de Jorna said in an email to lawyers Saturday.

He urged everyone in court to observe social distancing, and insisted all participants must wear a mask.

The suspension of the hearing will delay the conclusion of the trial, which opened on September 2nd.

Read more of this AFP report published by FRANCE 24.