Emptiness was the dock’s atmosphere where judgement ought to be given in the on-going trial of Simone Gbagbo, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity after her and her husband’s arrests by pro-Quattara’s forces.

According to ceoafrica, the case was supposed to resume this morning in Abidjan, but when the courtroom opened there was no sign of the Ivorian politician, who has been in custody since April 2011.

Absence has always been recorded anytime Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, President of the Parliamentary Group of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) is due to appear in court which has led to several postponements.

Although, proceedings went on without the former first lady of Laurent Gbagbo as Cote d'Ivoire’s president, it was gathered that Human Rights group, Lidho who was representing victims, pulled out of the trial citing a lack of thoroughness in the preparation.

Last year she was sentenced in a separate case to 20 years in jail for her role in the violence which followed the refusal of her husband to step down after elections in 2010.