Interdiction on asking questions from a defendant’s lawyer to a co-defendant violates the right to fair trial and witnesses
JUDGMENT
Kuchta v. Poland 23.01.2018 (no. 58683/08)
SUMMARY
Prohibition to put questions to a co-defendant by the defendant – plaintiff. The co-defendant’s testimony was decisive for the applicant’s case. Violation of the right to witnesses and fair trial. (Article 6 §§ 1 and 3 (d)).
PROVISIONS
Article 6 § 1
Article 6 § 3 (δ)
PRINCIPAL FACTS
The applicant, Arkadiusz Kuchta, is a Polish national who was born in 1975 and lives in Barczewo (Poland).
The case concerned criminal proceedings leading to Mr Kuchta’s conviction for complicity in the use of forgeries.
Relying on Article 6 §§ 1 and 3 (d) (right to a fair trial / right to the examination of witnesses), Mr Kuchta complained that the trial court had not allowed his defence to put questions to one of his co-defendants, whose statements had been, according to him, the main evidence used for his conviction.
THE DECISION OF THE COURT
Violation of Article 6 §§ 1 and 3 (d)
Just satisfaction: EUR 2,000 (non-pecuniary damage) and EUR 600 (costs and expenses)(echrcaselaw.com editing).