Magnitsky's Posthumous Trial Resumes In Moscow

Moscow's Tverskoi district court has resumed the posthumous trial of whistle-blowing lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

His former boss, William Browder, is being tried in absentia in the tax-evasion case.

Magnitsky, who worked for Browder's Hermitage Capital Management, was arrested in 2008 after accusing state officials of a $230 million tax refund fraud. He died in 2009 after nearly a year in pretrial detention.

The trial has adjourned several times since it began on March 11.

Magnitsky's relatives, who blame his death on abuse and neglect by authorities, are boycotting the trial.

The court appointed lawyers to defend the dead lawyer.

The trial on April 11 looked into some financial documents allegedly signed by Magnitsky and Browder.

The judge then adjourned the hearing until April 19.

Magnitsky's death caused continuing tensions between Washington and Moscow, including a tit-for-tat legislative row that has led Russia to ban adoptions of Russian children by Americans.

Based on reporting by RIA-Novosti, Interfax, and ITAR-TASS