Mr Quaranta, who is an Italian national, was born in 1962 at Scorrano (Lecce). He arrived in Switzerland at a very young age, with his parents. He resides at Vevey in the Canton of Vaud, where he pursues the occupation of assistant plumber.
The applicant, who was suspected of an offence under the Federal Misuse of Drugs Act of 3 October 1951 ("the 1951 Act"), appeared on 10 March 1985 before the investigating judge ("juge informateur") of the Vevey-Lavaux district. In the course of this sole examination, he requested free legal assistance (Article 104 of the Vaud Code of Criminal Procedure - see paragraph 18 below).
On 23 May 1985 the investigating judge communicated the application to the President of the Criminal Court who rejected it (Article 107 of the Vaud Code of Criminal Procedure - see paragraph 18 below) on 31 May on the grounds that "the needs of the defence [did] not require ... the provision of free legal assistance" and that "the case [did] not give rise to particular difficulties". Mr Quaranta was informed of this decision on 3 June and, although advised of his right to appeal against it within ten days to the indictments tribunal, he did not do so.
The applicant complained that the President of the Vevey District Criminal Court had twice refused his application for free legal assistance in the proceedings before that court. He relied on Article 6 para. 3 (c) (art. 6-3-c) of the Convention.
Citation: Quaranta v Switzerland (App no 12744/87) ECHR 24 May 1991
(from the official press-release prepared by the Registry Office of the European Court of Human Rights)