Hotel turns courtroom for Island’s longest trial

Thursday 8th January 2009, 2:59PM GMT.

MEMBERS of a Saudi Arabian family are giving evidence in a St Lawrence hotel this week in an ongoing Royal Court dispute over trust assets.

The Alhamrani family’s legal battle started in October and is taking place at the Hotel Cristina because of the volume of legal documents, many in Arabic, and the large number of lawyers involved.

A temporary courtroom, lined by filing cabinets and with a raised platform for the judges, has been set up in the hotel lounge, which has panoramic views over St Aubin’s Bay.

The case is likely to be the longest running in Jersey legal history with the opening statements alone having taken three months to complete. The action recommenced this week after a brief Christmas break and witnesses are now being called.

• Picture: A temporary courtroom has been set up in the lounge of the Hotel Cristina

Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post.

Click here for subscription details.

Individual editions are also available online.