Lawyer's Fault Aggravates Client's Charge?

Legal representatives do speak for their clients in court as well as for making public statements. However, can their actions also backfire their client's charges?

Tuesday, the trial of Antasari Azhar for the murder of Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, director of PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, continued with the prosecution's counterplea (replik). The public prosecutors accuse Antasari for causing commotions during trial through the acts of his legal representatives. Antasari's legal counsel separately commented that their actions shouldn't compound Antasari's charges.

During the first half of the trial, the prosecution team accused Antasari of making insubstantial statements and also causing commotions that disrupt the trials. This statement is part of their argument that Antasari's side is trying to form public opinion so that the judges' final verdict would be influenced.

The prosecutors elaborated that Antasari caused commotions through the acts of his legal counsel, "As his legal representatives they reflect his behavior." They consider all the press conferences and interactive interviews of the media with Antasari's defense team as commotions that disrupt the trial process.

During recess, Antasari's legal counsel pointed out that their actions shouldn't compound Antasari's charges. M. Assegaf, one of Antasari's legal representatives argued, "The prosecutors are amiss. Condemning or mitigating factors should be for the accused not for us (the legal representatives. Besides, if we're really causing a commotion in the trial, then who's going to be in charge of reminding us?" A reporter responded, "The judge." "Exactly. So if the judge doesn't mind it's all right."