Supreme Court judge Marchena laments press leaks in Catalan independence case

Marchena confirms verdict will be announced either Monday or Tuesday

Manuel Marchena is the presiding judge at Madrid's Supreme Court
Manuel Marchena is the presiding judge at Madrid's Supreme Court / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

October 12, 2019 07:20 PM

Judge Manuel Marchena, who presides over the court judging the pro-independence leaders, has lamented the press leaks regarding this case: "It's a shame, but it cannot be avoided when it comes to sentencing twelve people."

Not willing to confirm reports that the politicians and activists behind the 2017 independence referendum and declaration would be sentenced for sedition and misuse of public funds rather than rebellion, he did say that verdict would be announced on either Monday or Tuesday.

Spain's acting president, Pedro Sánchez, said on Saturday that he would address the press on the day the verdict is announced to comment on the sentence decreed by the Supreme Court.

Sánchez has said that he has not yet been informed of what the sentence will be, for which he cannot express his opinions on it, but has stated that he values the cooperation between Spanish and Catalan police forces "very positively."