Parties at the Khmer Rouge tribunal sought to hammer out disputes over scheduling yesterday, after the Supreme Court Chamber announced dates for hearings in the Case 002/01 appeal.

The scheduling memo, released on Tuesday, said that the appeal hearings are set for November 16 through 18, with a notice to parties that additional witness hearings may yet be scheduled beforehand.

Both the Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea teams requested at least five weeks to prepare for the appeals, which, excluding the week of Pchum Ben festival, are four weeks away. The prosecution, however, contended that one week to 11 days is sufficient, characterising the currently allotted time as excessive.

But Samphan defender Anita Guisse stood firmly behind her request, stating “I am asking for the time necessary so that I can defend my client properly.”

Civil party counsel Marie Giraud said that additional time should be given if it is also used to allow parties to familiarise themselves with Case 003 and 004 documents being disclosed into Case 002/02.

Meanwhile, Chea defender Victor Koppe noted that the consideration for extra time should take into account the outstanding summonses for witnesses, and what he characterised as the defence's smaller staff.

On a separate note, Koppe requested that the witness previously scheduled for today be heard prior to the appeal hearings as they are “very important”. Giraud, however, said it would be impossible for Koppe to modify his Case 002/01 appeal with testimony from Case 002/02.

A decision is expected prior to the Pchum Ben break.