Ammon News - Syria’s judiciary on Thursday sentenced a former member of government forces to 20 years in prison, while two supporters of the deposed government received a death sentence and life in prison, in the first verdicts over the coastal events last year.

Fourteen people were accused of involvement in the events, in a trial that opened last November. They were seven government forces members and seven supporters of former President Bashar al-Assad.

Further verdicts are expected next week.

Several of the defendants believed to be al-Assad supporters pleaded not guilty at the opening of the trial, with one claiming he was in Lebanon during the violence.

The death sentence issued was for “assault aimed at provoking civil war and sectarian clashes.”

Al Arabiya English + AFP