Anglo-Spanish journalist John Carlin is clear that the Catalan independence trial, which concluded this week, "has been barbaric."

Carlin explained to Catalunya Ràdio that the trial has shown that Spanish democracy "still needs time to evolve and reach a degree of maturity comparable to most of the democracies in the rest of Europe."

As a media professional, Carlin explains that he has received all kinds of comments accusing him of positioning himself in favour of Catalan independence (which he denies), and also of scorning the independence movement (which he also denies). "It's exasperating", he says.

The only absolutely clear positions he has, he says, is that "the trial has been barbaric", and that in his group of a dozen or so guiri (foreign) friends, who have quite different backgrounds but have all lived in Catalonia or Spain, there is a common point of view: all are opposed to the independence movement, he explains, and yet are also in full agreement that the preventative prison of the leaders, and the charges of rebellion, implying violence, are a "complete aberration".

And, according to Carlin, "people in the rest of the world, and especially in Europe will express these same views, after the trial verdict. With more or less intensity, depending on what the verdict actually is."

The four-month trial of 12 pro-independence Catalan leaders, on charges that included rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds, is now in the hands of the seven Supreme Court judges, who are not expected to deliver a verdict until the autumn.