The Vilnius District Court issued a ruling on Wednesday regarding the proceedings. During the session, Judge Gerda Sinkevičienė emphasized that the attendance of both parties is required for the continuation of the hearing. On the day of the proceedings, only representatives for the politician—specifically lawyer Reda Kurlavičienė and her assistant, Vilmantas Rastenis—were present.
The defendant, identified as R. Žemaitaitis, did not initially appear for the court session. When the matter of his presence was raised, the defendant’s counsel stated that the defendant intended to participate remotely.
This absence prompted legal questioning regarding the viability of the case moving forward. The lawyer representing the journalist argued that the participation of the defendant was crucial to the proceedings, thereby raising doubts about whether the hearing could legally commence without his physical presence. In response to the procedural issues concerning attendance, the court established a future date for the matter.
The next scheduled hearing in this case is set for July 21st. The court’s directive underscores the necessity for all involved parties to attend future sessions to ensure the continuity and proper conduct of the legal process.
Topics: #attend #hearing #defendant
