Trial of 'Lledoners 9' pro-independence activists who face up to 7-year sentences begins

The trial of the 'Lledoners 9' pro-independence activists began in the central Catalonia city of Manresa on Tuesday.

Three of the defendants face up to seven years behind bars for allegedly starting riots and injuring police officers in 2019 when the formerly jailed referendum organizers were transferred to Madrid for the rebellion trial that took place in Spain's Supreme Court.

On February 1, 2019, hundreds of people gathered outside Catalonia's Lledoners prison, norther of Manresa, in an attempt to block off traffic on the highway before being dispersed by police officers.

The public prosecutor has accused them of "causing offense against public peace" for building barricades that had the aim of "preventing the movement of vehicles."

While six of the defendants face only three years behind bars, the remaining three have been accused of disobedience and of injuring and assaulting three officers, for which they could spend an additional four years in prison.  

Beyond the public prosecutor's more severe sentencing request, the Catalan government – ruled by pro-independence Esquerra Republicana and Junts per Catalunya – is seeking 15-month sentences for three of the activists.

"This is the umpteenth time the public prosecutor, the Mossos d'Esquadra police force, and the Catalan government attempts to criminalize protest," Alerta Solidària defense lawyer Eva Pous said. "We expect all defendants to be acquitted."

Pous, furthermore, criticized the government for acting as a private prosecutor in this case: "Neither Junts nor Esquerra has done what we believe they should do, which is to withdraw these allegations."

Dozens of well-wishers traveled to Manresa on Tuesday to show their support for the activists, with various activities organized throughout the day.