Feb. 14 Attackers Charged with Murder, Sabotage
At least 16 suspects were officially charged Tuesday with committing several crimes including murder, attempted murder and rioting following a national rally Feb. 14 with some facing the death penalty if proven guilty of killing.
The suspects, including 10 in detention, are accused of mounting attacks on citizens returning from a rally to commemorate the anniversary of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. Two people were killed and at least 30 wounded.
Appeals deputy public prosecutor Judge Joseph Maamari charged the suspects with "forming an assembly of villains in Beirut on February 14, 2009 with the purpose of committing felonies against persons and businesses and to undermine the state”s authority."
Of the 16, Maamari charged six suspects with "murder and abetting the murder of Lutfi Zeineddine by stabbing him with illegally-owned knives and other sharp objects."
He also indicted the group with "the attempted murder of some citizens after beating and hurting them with sharp objects, damaging public and private property in addition to rioting."
The judge referred the file to first examining magistrate in Beirut Abdul Rahim Hammoud to complete the required legal procedures before trial.
In addition to Zeineddine, 20-year old Khaled Toaimeh succumbed late Monday to wounds inflicted on him after the rally.