Court rules trial of Iva Mihailova will continue in her absence
Court approved a request from the Kochani prosecutor to continue the trial without the accused, who is reported to be outside state reach.
The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Kochani has requested and the court has ruled that the criminal case against Iva Mihailova proceed in her absence, after declaring she is not reachable by state authorities.
"A decision has been issued concerning I. M., accused of serious offences against the safety of people and property in traffic, that she be tried in absence, since she is not accessible to state authorities," the Prosecutor's Office said.
Next hearing and defence representation
Defense lawyers told local media they will represent Mihailova at the next scheduled hearing on 9 November, when a traffic expert hired by the defence is expected to give testimony.
Meanwhile, reports from Bulgaria indicate that Mihailova is no longer at Pirogov Hospital in Sofia, where medical examinations were carried out to assess her health. The hospital said she had been their patient until the start of this week and that a decision on next steps in her care was pending.
Authorities in North Macedonia plan to form a commission of medical experts who will review whether the treatment Mihailova received domestically was appropriate and sufficient for the court to assess her fitness to stand trial.
Photo: press material from the event
