Rome, Sept. 17 (LaPresse) – The court-appointed lawyers defending the four Egyptian intelligence agents charged in the case of Giulio Regeni’s abduction, torture, and murder have requested that the First Criminal Court of Assizes in Rome assess a possible constitutional illegitimacy of the current legislation.
The defense attorneys are asking for the extension of legal aid (State-funded defense) to in absentia defendants—those not present at trial. The four officers involved are General Sabir Tariq and Colonels Usham Helmi, Athar Kamel Mohamed Ibrahim, and Magdi Ibrahim. All are charged with aggravated kidnapping, while Magdi Ibrahim also faces charges of participating in the aggravated assault and murder of the Italian researcher.
According to the defense, without access to legal aid, it has not been possible to appoint necessary experts, such as technical translators, which are crucial to preparing the defense strategy. “We would have had to cover the consultants' fees ourselves, which is unsustainable,” the lawyers stated.
The presiding judge has given the parties until September 30 to submit written briefs on the matter. The next hearing is scheduled for October 6, when the court will decide whether to refer the issue to the Constitutional Court. All previously scheduled hearings have been cancelled.