Trial of activist who lost an eye during 2017 referendum resumes after accused police inspector appears

The only trial related to police violence on the day of Catalonia's 2017 independence referendum is due to conclude on Thursday, exactly nine years on from the October 1 vote.

Catalan pro-independence activist Roger Español lost his right eye on the day of the referendum after being shot with a rubber bullet by police from a distance of 14.12 meters, closer than regulations allow.

The final hearing in the trial was suspended on Thursday after one of the four police officers on trial failed to appear for health reasons.

A lawyer representing the officer told the court that he had suffered a "sudden and unforeseen medical condition" that prevented him from attending.

The court adjourned the hearing until 1 pm and asked the lawyer to provide documentation supporting his absence.

Español's lawyer, Benet Salellas, called for an arrest warrant to be issued for the officer.

Trial resumes

The missing police inspector eventually appeared in court, and his lawyer presented a medical report showing that he had suffered an episode of high blood pressure and had required emergency treatment at Barcelona's Sagrada Família Clinic.

According to the medical report, he underwent several tests at the clinic and was discharged at 11.20am on Thursday.

Español calls for police convictions and end to rubber bullets

Español is convinced that the police officers accused of causing him to lose an eye are guilty.

Speaking to the media on Passeig de Lluís Companys ahead of the final day of his trial at Barcelona Provincial Court, he said they had all the expert evidence needed to substantiate their case over the "police brutality" inflicted on protesters on October 1, 2017.

He also believes the proceedings form part of a wider struggle "to put an end to rubber bullets."

The end of the trial coincides with the ninth anniversary of the referendum.

Dozens of pro-independence supporters gathered outside the court to back Español and mark the anniversary, carrying banners recalling the 1,066 people injured on October 1, 2017 and displaying the names of schools and other sites where police charged at voters and protesters.

Español's lawyer, Anaïs Franquesa of human rights group Irídia, said the trial had shown that a police officer fired three times towards Español, hitting him with the third shot.

She said the officer knew the weapon could be potentially lethal and accused the officers of breaching regulations with the intention of causing injury.

Four National Police officers – the officer who fired the shot and three commanders – are on trial.

The Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office is seeking their acquittal, arguing that the officers acted proportionately and within protocol, while Español's legal team is seeking prison sentences of up to 13 years.