This Thursday, former president of the Catalan National Assembly and JxCat deputy Jordi Sànchez testified as a defendant in the Catalan independence trial in Spain's Supreme Court. After the hearing, two journalists in Spain working for British newspapers discussed the issue online.
Specifically, they discuss what they see as not being "a strong case" and go as far as saying that "everyone who lives here knows there was never any violence".
"Those guilty of rebellion rise up violently and publicly... Focusing on the smashed-up Guardia Civil cars or whether accused were aware of constitutional court ruling doesn't seem to [be] making a strong case. Prosecution witnesses to come, of course", wrote James Badcock on Twitter. Badcock is a freelance journalist who has worked for the BBC, LA Times and the Daily Telegraph, among others.
Those guilty of rebellion rise up violently and publicly...
— James Badcock (@jpfbadcock) February 21, 2019
Focusing on the smashed-up Guardia Civil cars or whether accused were aware of constitutional court ruling doesn't seem to b making a strong case. Prosecution witnesses to come, of course. #juicioalproces #jordisanchez
One of those who responded to Badcock was Stephen Burgen, who writes for the Guardian and the Observer: "Case looks [very] weak [in my opinion]. Also weak on malversación [misuse of public funds]".
Case looks v weak IMO. Also weak on malversación
— Stephen Burgen (@stephenburgen) 21 de febrer de 2019
Later in the conversation, Burgen writes that it will "look pretty silly if the only charge that sticks is disobedience". He also notes the lack of violence, which is one of the requirements for rebellion, the most serious charge faced by the defendants. Another user later jokes there's "more violence in the build up to a North London [football] derby" than there has been in the independence movement.
But going to look pretty silly if the only charge that sticks is disobedience. Everyone who lives here knows there was never any violence.
— Stephen Burgen (@stephenburgen) 21 de febrer de 2019
Badcock agrees that whilst he thinks they were "very disobedient", he doesn't see anything else as having been demonstrated:
Indeed. I think they were very disobedient. So far, that seems like your lot.
— James Badcock (@jpfbadcock) February 21, 2019
He also offers his view of how he believes the general public in Spain sees the case:
I am not so sure that ordinary Spaniards appreciate the legal niceties of rebellion, sedition etc. but, clearly, having seen an investigating judge level those accusations, they are expecting to see heavy punishments meted out.
— James Badcock (@jpfbadcock) 21 de febrer de 2019