Sofia City Court postponed the hearing over the case of nationalist Ataka party leader Volen Siderov and his wife Kapka, charged with incitement to perjury, after party followers started hissing and booing in the courtroom.

In the beginning of Wednesday's hearing Siderov's lawyer demanded that the trial was suspended over procedure faults but the judge dismissed the claim.

About 50 of Siderov's supporters then started booing and shouting "Mafia," which finally forced the court to suspend the trial until May 26.

The nationalist leader and his wife are charged with incitement to perjury for attempting to frame his former ally Pavel Chernev following an assault at Trakiya highway in April 2006. Siderov testified to the police that he was with Chernev, trying to hide the fact that his driver has a criminal record from the media.

The scandal shattered the nationalist fraction when it emerged that Volen Siderov's car crashed into another one driven by 22-year-old Yavor Dokov. It was initially reported that Chernev drove the car and punched the young driver after the incident

Sofia City Court hearings over the case have been repeatedly postponed after either the defendants or their lawyer failed to turn up in court.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!