A judge in Abidjan has decided that the trial of former First Lady of Ivory Coast Simone Gbagbo for crimes against humanity will continue in her absence, AFP reports.
Lawyers for Mrs Gbagbo have been boycotting the trial since last month, accusing the court of bias.
They are mainly angry at the court for refusing to grant a request they submitted for high profile figures close to President Alassane Oattara to take to the stand as defence witnesses.
But presiding judge Boiqui Kouadio has said Mrs Gbagbo’s presence is not necessary for the trial to continue. He then assigned the defendant several lawyers and adjourned proceedings until 28 November.
Mrs Gbagbo – who has already been jailed on separate charges – is standing trial for her alleged role in post-electoral violence that rocked Ivory Coast in 2010 in which an estimated 3,000 people died.
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