A judge in a major criminal trial in the Netherlands stepped down over "unacceptable behaviour" by lawyers.
Ridouan Taghi, who was one of Europe's most wanted men when he was captured in Dubai, is accused of 11 murders and assassinations, international drug crimes and running a gang called the Angels of Death.
Sixteen alleged members of the gang are also due to stand trial.
One accusation that led the chief investigative judge to step down is against lawyer Nico Meijering, who is accused of identifying a family member of a prosecution witness in a letter to the judge.
(L/R): Lawyers Juriaan de Vries, Benedicte Ficq, Nico Meijering, Christian Flokstra, Laura ter Steeg (left to right) arrive at an 'extra secure' court at Schiphol, Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands on August 27, 2020, for a pre-trial hearing in the 'Marengo' case. - The case revolves around a series of murders allegedly carried out on behalf of Ridouan Taghi, who was arrested in Dubai in December 2019, and extradited to The Netherlands. (Photo by Sem VAN DER WAL / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT
Police tracked Mr Meijering to Dubai in a surveillance operation in a bid to apprehend Mr Taghi.
The case has been mired in controversy after the brother of a key prosecution witness known as Nabil B and his lawyer Derk Wiersum were assassinated.
The trial judge, who cannot be named, has been sitting on the case, known as the Marengo trial, hearing evidence in private since last July.
A passer-by looks at the flowers that have been deposited outside the office of the shot lawyer Derk Wiersum. - Derk Wiersum, defence lawyer in a major gangland drugs case was shot dead outside his Amsterdam home on September 18, 2019, raising fresh fears that the Netherlands is turning into a "narco-state". (Photo by Koen van Weel / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT
Her withdrawal means all the trial’s evidence hearings in October and November have been cancelled, causing lengthy delays while a new trial judge is appointed.
"Certain statements by some counsel go beyond all standards of decency, in my opinion," she wrote in her withdrawal letter, according to newspaper Het Parool.
"Where one might say it is just words, I find such treatment unacceptable in business dealings between judges, lawyers and prosecutors.
“In addition, I have been accused in various terms of systematically intimidating the defence, systematically favouring the prosecution and ignoring the rights of defence.
"It has also been said that with me staying there would be a constant fear of negative decisions for the defence and bias towards the defence."
Defence lawyers asked for her to step down earlier this year over claims of bias.
Mr Meijering and his colleague Christian Flokstra, said the judge’s withdrawal from the case was unjustified.
“We deeply regret that the examining magistrate has said goodbye to the Marengo trial with this letter full of personal and unfounded grievances towards lawyers,” they said.
“This is unnecessary and does not suit an examining magistrate.”
The trial faced continued delays owing to Wiersum's murder as Nabil B sought to find new legal representation.
Mr Taghi is in a high-security prison in Amsterdam following his deportation from Dubai last December.
An international arrest warrant was issued for him in 2018 and officials issued a €100,000 ($118,200) reward for his capture.
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
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Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
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December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
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