Jurist Lebanon Special Tribunal sentences killers of ex-premier to life in prison

[Dadparvar]

The Special Tribunal of Lebanon (STL) sentenced Habib Merhi and Hussein Oneissi to life in prison Thursday for their part in a bombing that killed Lebanon’s ex-premier Rafic Hariri. Merhi and Oneissi committed a bombing that killed 22, including Hariri, and injured 226. They were previously found guilty of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, being accomplices to commit a terrorist act, being accomplices in the intentional homicide of the 22 victims, and being accomplices in the attempted homicide of the 226 injured. Their convictions were upheld on appeal.

During sentencing, Judge Ivana Hrdličková cited the gravity of the offenses in applying the harshest possible sentence, saying:

The attack involved the use of a large amount of military-grade explosives, which were detonated in a busy public place, in broad daylight…The evidence also demonstrates that the attack terrorized, not only the direct victims, but more generally the people of Lebanon. It is therefore again undeniable that the offences…are extremely grave.

Neither Merhi nor Oneissi are expected to serve their sentences as Hezbollah, the group to which both men belonged and allegedly ordered the attack, has refused to comply with any rulings from the STL and has refused to extradite any Hezbollah members.

The STL was established by the UN in 2005 after a series of terrorist attacks. The STL has been struggling financially, as all of its funding from UN member states is voluntary, and its most recent Annual Report references the possibility that the tribunal may go “dormant” due to major budget short-falls.

The post Lebanon Special Tribunal sentences killers of ex-premier to life in prison appeared first on JURIST - News.

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