Today the Kuala Lumpur High Court will deliver its decision on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Rosmah Mansor's applications to set aside the subpoenas issued for them to testify in the sodomy trial.
Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah is expected to deliver his decision first and then continue on with Anwar Ibrahim's trial.
Najib and Rosmah's lawyers had claimed that they are not relevant and material witnesses for Anwar's defence.
Their applications are supported by the prosecution.
Lead defence counsel Karpal Singh, however, has argued that Najib could tell the complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's state of mind when they met, two days before the alleged sodomy incident at the then deputy premier's Taman Duta home in June 2008.
After the court announces its decision, Dutch spine specialist Dr Thomas Hoogland who had performed surgery on Anwar's back in 2004 is expected to take the stand.
LIVE REPORTS
8.50am: Lawyers for Najib, Rosmah arrive: Ghazi Ishak, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Salehuddin Saidin, and M Athimulan.
The prosecuting team are also in court.
A white computer screen has been set up.
8.55am: Queens counsel Mark Trowell walks in. He is an observer from the Inter-Parliamentary union.
Among the diplomatic corp present today are officials from the US and German embassies.
9am: Saiful's lawyer Zamri Idrus walks in.
9.05am: Anwar arrives with PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and supporters. Also present is his lawyer Param Cumaraswamy.
9.09am: Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar walks in.
9.37am: Court starts with Justice Zabidin presiding.
Now he will deliver the decision.
After hearing and reading the affidavits, the court agrees to allowNajib and Rosmah's application.
9.41am: Dr Thomas Hoogland takes the stand. He is an orthapaedic surgeon and is aged 66. He lives in Munich, Germany.
N Sankara is questioning.
"I am here to give evidence as Mr Anwar's doctor," Hoogland said
9.44: Hoogland states his credentials, his academic qualification and that he has a Phd from the Birmingham University.
9.46am: Hoogland says he has performed 14,000 spine surgeries.
He has written five books on spine surgery. He is a member of the German Society of Orthapaedics and his main interests is orthoscopic surgery.
10.04am: Hoogland explains the lumbar part of the spine and its functions.
He explains that a slipped disc is excruciating pain to the back. It can cause a lot of problems, particularly when standing.
10.08am: Hoogland uses computer images put up on a white screen to explain from the witness stand.
He explains that a stepnosis is a narrowing of the canal in the spine.
10.17am: Hoogland says he met Anwar in April, 2001, while he was in prison under police surveillance.
He saw him again in Sept 2004, after Anwar was released.
"Anwar arrived at the Alpha Clinic in Munich, Germany. It was clear and decided then that he undergo surgery."
"He had surgery with local anaesthesia."
10.19am: The witness says he prepared his report on the Anwar surgery and gave Anwar a copy of the report upon the politician's request.
10.21am: He says Anwar has lumbar sclerosis, which affects the patients leg and hand.
"In particular, the left leg, following an old neck problem."
He said he met Anwar on Sept 4, 2004, and he had complained then of being assaulted while in police custody six years’ earlier.
10.24am: The witness says that the longer the nerve is irritated, the more likely it would result in subsequent loss of function.
10.30am: Anwar has problems bending forward and with the mobility of his spine.
10.32am: Hoogland says that based on the system he made the diagnosis of lateral stonosis, which would narrow the canal of the spine.
[More to follow]
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