The trial of Golden Dawn’s leadership and members, which began on Monday morning in Athens, was adjourned until May 7 amid reports of attacks on witnesses.

The trial was adjourned after it emerged that one of the 69 defendants did not have a lawyer. Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos and many of the Neo-Nazi party’s MPs did not appear in the special courtroom at Korydallos Prison. A total of 44 defendants appeared in court.

The trial began after a months-long investigation into the party following the murder of rapper Pavlos Fyssas in September 2013 by Golden Dawn member Giorgos Roupakias.

Journalists were told that witnesses of Fyssas’s murder were attacked by Golden Dawn supporters as they arrived at Korydallos Prison. Details of the alleged incident were not immediately available but the police was notified.

The first day of the trial was attended by Fyssas’s mother and representatives from political parties, as well as Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis.