Police officers to testify in Catalan trial as judge decides on leaders' freedom

Some 30 officers from Spain's National police are due to testify as witnesses in week 9 of the trial of Catalan independence leaders in the Supreme Court.

The first of them took the stand on Tuesday morning. Yet, the first to declare this week will be 11 Guardia Civil officers involved in a number of operations around Catalonia, but whose testimony was held over from last week's sessions.

In parallel to the session, the Supreme Court has to decide on whether the imprisoned Catalan leaders running in the Spanish general election should be released for the duration of the campaign.

The vote is on April 28, with Oriol Junqueras, Raül Romeva, Jordi Turull, Josep Rull and Jordi Sànchez are all taking part while facing charges in the Catalan trial.

Prison election debates

The Supreme Court has decided it will leave the question of holding election debates in prison up to the Spanish Electoral Authority. 

Jailed activist and MP Jordi Sànchez made the request to the Supreme Court to hold debates in the prison he's being held in while the Catalan Trial is ongoing, but the judges are leaving the final call to the Electoral Authority. 

Sànchez is being held in Madrid's Soto del Real prison, along with Oriol Junqueras, who has also requested permission to hold election rallies in the penitentiary facility.

Catalan Trial day 28

The first Guardia Civil Spanish police officer testifying on Tuesday was involved in operations in the town of Sant Carles de la Ràpita, and claimed that voters "threw stones" at police. 

The following officer was stationed in Vilabella for the referendum day, and he told the court of "kicks," "spitting" and "pushing" by voters. 

The third officer to take the stand said that in Mont-roig del Camp on referendum day his finger was injured, for which he had to undergo surgery.