2nd July 2007, 17:45 WST
The trial of 28 people accused in the Madrid train bombings -
Europes biggest terrorist court case - wrapped up today with
closing arguments by defence lawyers before the three-judge panel
was to begin deliberations.
A verdict in the trial, which began in February at a high-security
Madrid courthouse, is scheduled for mid-October.
Most of the defendants are Moroccans, and prosecutors blame the
March 11, 2004, train bombings on Islamic terrorists.
Nine Spaniards are also on trial, accused of providing stolen
explosives that were used in the attacks.
The prosecution is seeking prison terms of nearly 39,000 years each
for eight prime suspects if convicted of mass murder of the 191
people who died in the attacks and the attempted murder of 1,841
people who were injured.
However, under Spanish law, the maximum time they could serve on a
terrorism conviction is 40 years. Spain
has no death penalty or life imprisonment.
Among the prime suspects, three are considered masterminds, two are
alleged to have placed bombs aboard the trains, two are described
as "necessary cooperators", and one, a Spaniard, an alleged
supplier of the explosives.
The other defendants face far smaller sentences if convicted on
lesser charges such as membership of or collaboration with a
terrorist group.
Speeches from defence lawyers for Rabei Osman, an Egyptian accused
of being a mastermind of the bombings, and Moroccan Jamal Zougam,
who allegedly placed some of the bombs, were expected to close the
trial today.
Each of the defendants may then make a final statement, though none
is expected to do so.
As evidence was introduced during the near five-month trial, one
suspect, Moroccan-born Brahim Moussaten, was cleared of all charges
and Moroccans Othman El Gnaoui and Rafa Zouhier, who had been
relatively minor defendants, were upgraded to prime suspects.
In revising the charges, prosecutors also sharply reduced the
mass-murder charges against prime suspect Syrian-born Basel
Ghayloun.
He is now charged with belonging to a terrorist group and faces 12
years in prison if convicted.
Each of the defendants has denied having anything to do with the
attacks and condemned terrorism during the trial.
MADRID