Four leaders of the red shirts dismissed on Monday the charges of inciting violence in connection with the protest outside the residence of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda in July 2007.
Veera Musigapong, Natthawut Saikua, Vipoothalaeng Pattanapoomthai, and weng Tojirakarn showed up at the Criminal Court yesterday to be formally informed about the charges against them.
They were charged with leading an unrest, threatening officials and resisting orders to end their illegal protest. The four allegedly led thousands of red shirt protesters to gather outside of Prem's Sisao Thewet residence to force him out of his post as the chief royal adviser. The red shirts accused Prem of being instrumental to the coup of September 2006.
The red shirt leaders' lawyers suggested 58 defence witnesses for the trial but the court yesterday allowed for hearing of 25 witnesses.
The court also would merge this case with another one filed against Nopparuj Worachitwuthikul and two other red shirt supporters facing similar charges in connection with the same incident. In the latter case, the defence asked for questioning of 17 witnesses.
The court yesterday also scheduled October 5 for the first hearing of the prosecution witnesses and November 10 for the first hearing of the defence witnesses.