Saif Gaddafi defence lawyer dies mysteriously

John Jones, QC, defence lawyer for Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafy, son of murdered Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafy, has passed away under what have been described as "mysterious circumstances".

John Jones' death was divulged on April 18 and has gone largely unnoticed in the media. As Lead Counsel at the International Criminal Court in defence of Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafy,, assisted by Sarah Bafadhel, he fought for his client's right to a fair trial.

In a letter to UNSMIL, John Jones called for the immediate release of Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafy on the grounds that the Al-Hadba court did not have the right to continue proceedings, let alone judge him, because he had been arbitrarily detained and tortured.

As a member State of the United Nations Organization, Libya and all Libyans had the obligation to follow and respect international law. John Jones was an advocate of the precept that international law exists and is to be respected by all.

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey

Pravda.Ru 

Twitter: @TimothyBHinchey

*Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey has worked as a correspondent, journalist, deputy editor, editor, chief editor, director, project manager, executive director, partner and owner of printed and online daily, weekly, monthly and yearly publications, TV stations and media groups printed, aired and distributed in Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal, Mozambique and São Tomé and Principe Isles; the Russian Foreign Ministry publication Dialog and the Cuban Foreign Ministry Official Publications. He has spent the last two decades in humanitarian projects, connecting communities, working to document and catalog disappearing languages, cultures, traditions, working to network with the LGBT communities helping to set up shelters for abused or frightened victims and as Media Partner with UN Women, working to foster the UN Women project to fight against gender violence and to strive for an end to sexism, racism and homophobia. A Vegan, he is also a Media Partner of Humane Society International, fighting for animal rights. He is Director and Chief Editor of the Portuguese version of Pravda.Ru.