The five Bulgarian nurses, sentenced to death for intentional HIV infection in Libya, said on February 25 that they were innocent on additional charges of slander.

Additional charges were brought up because of the statements of the nurses that Libyan officers tortured them into confessing guilt. These confessions are the main evidence of guilt that prosecution used in the HIV trial.

Tripoli’s Penal Court is holding the sittings in the defamation trial. Two of the officers brought up the charges and demand nearly three million dollar compensation, Bulgarian National Radio reported.

Prosecution demanded additional sentence of three years in prison, in case the nurses are found guilty.

In court, the nurses once again said that they were tortured. Court decided to examine evidence in the previous trial of the officers. Previously the officers were put on trial but were found not guilty of torturing the nurses.

Meanwhile Bulgaria is getting ready to launch a counter-trial because of the torture the nurses were subjected to. Evidence is currently examined.