Seven residents of the Catalan municipalities of Arenys de Munt, Barcelona, Pont de Vilomara, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Vilanova i la Geltrú will be tried in the Barcelona Audience from this Tuesday for having protested in support of the failed investiture of president Carles Puigdemont, on January 30th, 2018, in Barcelona's Parc de la Ciutadella. The public prosecutor is seeking three years in prison for each of them for offences of public disorder and assault on police officers. And for an offence of causing injury, fine of 600 euros for each of them, plus compensation of 80 euros for four Mossos agents and 200 euros to one of them. The Catalan government withdrew from the case, a fact that caused an effect contrary to what was sought by the defence lawyers, the majority from the Alerta Solidaria legal aid group, who had called on the pro-independence government to abandon the case against pro-independence activists. The trial begins this Tuesday in the Barcelona Audience, and three further court sessions have also been scheduled: November 23rd, 29th and 30th.
The court postponed this trial against the seven activists almost a year ago. In the courtroom, the Catalan government lawyer - complying with an agreement with the CUP party - announced that he was withdrawing from the criminal procedure because it was not clear who was responsible for the injuries to the police - which were the justification that the government had for maintaining its accusations. The measure, however, had a boomerang effect. The judge adjourned the hearing so that the Mossos police who had allegedly suffered injuries in the demonstration, and were then left without legal representation, could appoint a lawyer. Most of the officers who have filed private charges are represented by lawyer José María Fuster-Fabra, who represents the Catalan Police Union (SPC). With these new private accusations, the police cannot ask for heavier penalties than those requested by the public prosecutors, or new offences. There are other cases where the same has happened: the Catalan government withdraws its accusation, the police press charges as a private prosecution, as is possible under Spanish law. This trial of the seven accused is, however, the paradigmatic one of this type.
The prosecution's accusations
In its indictment, the prosecutor states that around 5,000 people gathered in the morning around the Catalan Parliament, on January 30th, 2018, the day that the Catalan Parliament elected under the Article 155 elections was to hold its debate on forming a government, with Carles Puigdemont as the candidate, given that he led the largest party in the victorious pro-independence bloc, although he had also gone into exile in October 2017. A thousand people entered the Ciutadella park, a group "with an anti-system aesthetic", according to the prosecutor, "agitated the crowd", moved the metal crowd barriers, and the seven accused "punched and pushed" Catalan police officers who were protecting the door of the Catalan chamber. Five officers were slightly injured by blows to the shoulders and one to the genitals, and the prosecutor asks that they be compensated with 80 euros and one of them with 200 euros. After that demonstration, the Catalan interior ministry announced that the demonstrators who caused the disturbances could be fined.
Tsunami protest at Barça-Madrid match
This is not the only trial scheduled this week against Catalan pro-independence protesters. This Monday, the Barcelona Audience has completed the trial of the activist Víctor Verdejo, who protested against the jail sentences imposed on the pro-independence leaders by the Supreme Court, in the Camp Nou action organized by the Tsunami Democràtic protest platform on the night of the Barça-Madrid match. The prosecutor has maintained its request for seven years' prison for offences of aggravated disorder, aggravated assault and causing injury. The defendant's lawyer, Norma Pedemonte, raised questions about the police officers' injuries, including a broken finger, as reported by Alerta Solidaria.
Eleven Lleida protesters to face trial
And this Wednesday, the Lleida Audience begins the trial of eleven people accused of public disorder, assault against a police officer, damage to a public building and causing injuries, after taking part in the protest at the Spanish government's sub-delegation, or office, in the city, following the arrest of president Carles Puigdemont in Germany, in March 2018. The prosecutor is demanding sentences of five years prison. The session will continue on Thursday. Last Saturday, a thousand people took part in a demonstration calling for the freedom of the "Subdelegation Eleven", as the case is known, in which those prosecuted may have to face 40,000 euros in fines if found guilty. The rapper Pablo Hasél, who is serving a sentence in prison for his lyrics and social media statements, is one of the accused.