Live televised court proceedings began in the Netherlands today against an environmental activist charged with the murder of anti-immigration politician Mr Pim Fortuyn.
The accused, who remained in prison during the hearing, has been on hunger strike for four weeks in protest against camera surveillance of his Amsterdam jail cell. He was represented by defence lawyers in court.
Mr Volkert van der Graaf was arrested within minutes of Mr Fortuyn's murder on May 6th, just days before general elections in the Netherlands. Mr Fortuyn's killing shocked the country and provoked an outpouring of grief for the maverick populist.
Mr Fortuyn rocked the Dutch political establishment with his meteoric rise. The former sociology lecturer had said it was his destiny to become the first openly gay Dutch prime minister.
Prosecutors, who are expected to ask for the suspect's period of detention to be extended until a date is set for the start of the trial, are still completing their investigations into the murder.
Though television cameras are regularly allowed into Dutch courtrooms, it is the first time ever that court proceedings have been broadcast live.
Mr Fortuyn's party, which last month joined a centre-right coalition government with the Christian Democrats (CDA) and VVD liberals, won second place in the May 15th election in a dramatic swing to the right on a wave of sympathy votes.