In the case of Manolache v. Romania the Court held that there had been a violation of the right to a fair trial.

The case concerned the fairness of criminal proceedings against the applicant, a police officer. On trial for influence peddling, he was initially acquitted but was then convicted in a final judgment by the Piteşti Court of Appeal. One of the two judges on the bench at last instance had not, however, taken evidence directly from all the witnesses.

The Court found that the Court of Appeal had indeed made a fresh interpretation of witness statements that were decisive in the case, but that both of the judges on the bench had not heard the evidence from the witnesses directly. The requirements of a fair trial had thus been breached.

• Press release
• Press release (in Romanian)