Jailed leaders demand start of independence trial be delayed

Most of the jailed Catalan pro-independence leaders have requested a delay in the beginning of their trial, currently set for February 12.

The Supreme Court announced the date on February 1, with 11 days' notice, something the defendants think is not long enough.

The lawyers of officials Oriol Junqueras, Raül Romeva, Jordi Turull, Josep Rull and Jordi Sànchez have demanded that the trial be delayed for three weeks, on the grounds that they need more time to study the evidence admitted by the judge –the Supreme Court only revealed what evidence and witnesses they would admit on Friday.

The defenses also complain about the jailed leaders being in Madrid prisons for four days but without so far being given computers to prepare for the trial.

For Rull, Turull and Sànchez's lawyers, this is "an obvious and effective violation of their right to a defense and their fundamental right to equality before the law."

"Humiliations" during transferal

The nine jailed pro-independence leaders were transferred from prisons in Catalonia to penitentiaries in Madrid on Friday in preparation for the trial.