Date: Aug 23, 2018 Source: The Daily Star Conclusion of Hariri trial postponed 1 day BEIRUT: Closing arguments for the Rafik Hariri assassination trial has been rescheduled to begin Sept. 11, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon tweeted Tuesday. The summation of the trial, which opened its doors in January 2014, was initially scheduled to begin Sept. 10 – just one day prior. Dates for the STL’s public hearings are often subject to last-minute changes for reasons insignificant to the content of the trial. Final arguments are slated to take place over nine days, with the prosecution making the first remarks. The legal representatives of the victims will follow and the defense will conclude the closing arguments. All parties retain the right to respond to the other, but the final statement will be reserved for the defense team. According to STL spokesperson Wajed Ramadan, it may take several months for judges to reach a verdict. While it is impossible to pin an exact date, it is likely the Hariri trial will finally reach an end in mid to late 2019. The four indicted individuals, Salim Ayyash, Hassan Merhi, Hussein Oneissi and Assad Sabra are all affiliated with Hezbollah. All four of the accused have been tried in absentia.