On January 16, 2014, the first trial at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon began in Prosecutor v. Ayyash et al.  According to the press release, the trial commenced with opening statements by the Prosecutor, which will be followed by those of the legal representatives of the victims, as well as the defense counsel for Mr. Badreddine and Mr. Oneissi.  Given that the accused—Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra—are still at large, the proceedings are being held in absentia.