Indictment 18/98, 12-month trial and more

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Those charged in the indictment 18/98

The macro-trial against associations linked to leftwing nationalism, the indictment 18/98, created a sense of great expectancy last year. Today, very few media follow the trial. The start was polemic and accidental: documents that wouldn't come up, problems with translators, objections, suspension petitions for hearings... and a court president, Ángela Murillo, that unveiled her character when addressing those charged as well as defence lawyers.

Judicial tensions caused the adjournment of the trial in 45 occasions. In all, there have been 142 hearings, and those charged have testified for differentiated accusations.

The highest prosecutor petition, of 51 years in prison, was for Xabier Alegría. His testimony raised much interest in the media.

Those charged were obliged to attend all sessions even if they were not involved in them. Nine of those processed had a traffic accident and Jokin Gorostidi died of a heart attack on the eve of his testimony.

Following the statements of those charged, it was the turn for witnesses, over 200. Among them were political and union leaders, as well as imprisoned ETA members. Now it's time for expert witnesses, and the finish date for the trial has not been announced yet.

Those charged and the association to support them 18/98+ repeatedly denounced the political character of the trial. Likewise, representatives of different fields have also requested to put an end to the trial. There have also been different events in support of those accused, for instance, the demonstration that covered the streets of Bilbao in February.