Protestors Want New Prosecutor

The nine protestors charged with disobeying police orders at the Gálgahraun lava field last October have asked that a new prosecutor be appointed, as he will also be called upon to be a witness in the trial.

RÚV reports that the trial of the nine protestors began this morning. On the first order of business, the attorney for the defense motioned for prosecutor Karl Ingi Vilbergsson to recuse himself from the case. The reason for the motion, the defense said, was that Karl will also be called as a witness in the case.

Despite the prosecution’s objections, the motion was filed. The court will reconvene on March 24.

As reported, the nine, who are members of the group Lava Friends, have been charged with refusing to obey a police order. This order was to disperse their blockade of road construction through the Gálgahraun lava field, which were officially protected in 2009, last October.