The International Criminal Court yesterday pushed back to November a hearing on Cote d’lvoire’s former President Laurent Gbagbo’s bid for release after defence lawyers said they needed more time.
On Monday, the court based in The Hague began dealing with Mr. Gbagbo’s application to be acquitted of crimes against humanity and to be freed after seven years in detention.
Mr. Gbagbo, 73, the first-ever head of state to be handed over to the ICC, has been on trial since 2016 for his role in fomenting post-electoral violence eight years ago in the west African nation.
The hearings were meant to end tomorrow, but lawyers for Mr.Gbagbo and his right-hand man Charles Ble Goude asked for more time.
Judge Cuno Tarfusser granted the request, setting the new hearing for November 12.
