Two RoA Police officials on trial for overstepping their authority on March 1, 2008, pleaded not guilty today during their trial at the Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Court. The two police officers, Gegham Harutyunyan and Hovhannes Ghukasyan, are charged with using excessive force during the mass public disturbances on the day in question. The defense has claimed that the actions of the police were totally justified, citing the mass unrest on the day in question and the lawlessness that was widespread. Defense attorney Arshak Tovmasyan petitioned the court to drop the charges against the officers, arguing that they had acted in self-defense. While Prosecutor Harutyun Harutyunyan did not argue with the description offered by the defense regarding the overall state of affairs on March 1, he said that the overwhelming preponderance of evidence suggests that there was no justification or cause for the actions of the police. The court then postponed a deliberation of the defense motion until after an examination of all the facts involved in the case are presented. According to court procedure, first subpoenaed witness will offer testimony, followed by an examination of trial materials, and then those indicted will be questioned. Today, two witnesses took the stand; a taxi driver, who was hailed by an individual trying to flee the scene after committing an infraction, and a police officer. Both were questioned without showing proper I.D. The trial was then recessed till December 1.