The Bulgarian nurses sentenced to death for intentional HIV infection in Libya requested Bulgarian lawyers to represent them in the upcoming slander trial.

Parallel to the HIV infection trial, the nurses have been charged with defamation. They said that Libyan officers tortured them into confessing guilt.

Libyan lawyer Osman Bizanti represents the nurses. Bulgarian lawyer Hari Haralampiev presented their new request upon his return from the latest court sitting in Libya, Darik Radio reported.

The nurses said that it was inappropriate for five people to be represented by one lawyer. Haralampiev said that the involvement of more attorneys will make the nurses feel better and calmer about the outcome of the trial.

Bulgarian lawyers will do their best to receive the right to represent the nurses in upcoming court sessions, Haralampiev said.

Haralampiev said that each one of the nurses showed him scars and evidence of the torture. In the first sittings of the slander case the nurses once again said that they were tortured.

A court decision that the nurses were really tortured could also change the outcome of the HIV trial, Haralampiev said. The self-confessions were the main evidence of guilt that prosecution used.

The next court sitting is scheduled for March 11.