[JURIST] The UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon [official website] on Friday handed down [press release] its first judgment, finding journalist Karma Khayat in contempt of court for not removing a broadcast made in 2012. The STL, set up to prosecute those responsible for the assassination of prime minister Rafik Hariri [BBC profile; JURIST news archive], cleared Khayat of charges of identifying witnesses. Judge Nicola Lettieri stated [judgement, PDF] “[t]he journalistic profession may not be used as an impenetrable shield; where different legitimate interests are involved, they must be weighed in light of the priorities in a democratic society.”

In October 2013 the STL indicted [JURIST report] Hassan Merhi on charges including terrorism and intentional homicide in the attack. Merhi is charged with helping to create a video claiming false responsibility for the attack, the coordination of the video’s delivery, and conspiracy aimed at committing a terrorist act. Hezbollah has denied involvement [BBC report] in Hariri’s killing, refusing to extradite the first four suspects. In 2012 the STL confirmed its jurisdiction [JURIST report] over the trials of the alleged assassins. Earlier that year the STL upheld the decision to try the four accused in absentia, and their trial began [JURIST reports] in January 2014.