Lawyer Withdraws from Altunbas Trial Again

The lawyer of defendant Ibrahim Dedeoglu withdrew from the case about the death of Hacettepe University student Birtan Altunbas under detention.

According to the ntvmsnbc.com news portal, the judge criticized Dedeoglu's new lawyer for asking for some time. "You have the right to ask for more time, but this right is being misused," the website quoted the judge as saying.

Defendant Hasan Cavit Orhan and representatives from non-governmental organizations attended today's hearing at an Ankara court.

Defense lawyer Ahmet Ozcicek announced he was withdrawing from the case at the beginning of the hearing.

Defendant Dedeoglu's new lawyer Halit Armutlu asked the judge for additional time to review the case. The judge reacted to the request.

"Many lawyers withdrew from this case in the past. And the new lawyers asked for additional time. How is this trial going to end if a new lawyer comes to each hearing and asks for more time?" asked the judge.

Lawyer Armutlu said they had not intention to delay the case and criticized the presence of international observers.

The hearing was postponed till March 26.

The U.S. had warned about statute of limitation

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had sent a letter to Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and told him he was worried the Altunbas trial would not end before the statute of limitation runs out and thus the police officers would not be punished. The trial is regarded as one of the longest torture trials in Turkey. (EO/BB/EA/YE)