Kocani trial of 13 police officers restarts after juror changes
Court restarted the trial from the beginning after two jurors withdrew; Judge Fanka Janculeva Mihailovska will preside and prosecutor Spasenka Andonova says prosecution remains on the charges.
The criminal trial of 13 police officers accused of serious offenses against public safety in connection with the tragedy at the Kocani nightclub "Pulse" has been restarted from the beginning after a change in the court panel.
The court announced that one of the jurors informed the bench that, for health reasons, they will not be able to participate in hearings for more than a month, while a second juror said they will withdraw because of other engagements and will no longer serve on criminal trials.
Panel change forces procedural reset
The hearing is presided over by Judge Fanka Janculeva Mihailovska. Prosecutor Spasenka Andonova represents the state in the case.
Andonova told the court that the prosecution "remains fully on the charges." The prosecutor's office has not changed its position regarding the indictment following the reshuffle of jurors.
The restart means earlier testimony and procedural acts before the previous panel will not carry over; the court must hear evidence again under the new composition. No new hearing date was announced by the court during the session reported by the institution.
Photo: press material from the event
