The way forward

The investigations approved must now be launched and completed. The court does not find it necessary for all investigations to be completed before the hearing on the merits begins. What does need to be clear, however, is which ones have not yet been completed, and how long they will take.

The court will discuss how specifically it would like to conduct the hearing on the merits by correspondence with the Public Prosecution Service and the defence before 1 February 2021.

Next hearing: 1 February 2021 at 10:00 CET.