http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/world/europe/paris-attacks-salah-abdeslam.html 2016-10-12 14:00:28 Lawyers for Salah Abdeslam, Suspect in Paris Attacks, Resign Mr. Abdeslam, the sole surviving assailant from the Nov. 13 terrorist assaults, has remained silent and has indicated that he no longer wants representation. === PARIS — Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving assailant from the The two lawyers — Sven Mary in Belgium, where “Considering that for the last two interrogations, as well as the next one scheduled for the end of November, this man has chosen to withdraw into silence, my role ends,” Mr. Berton Mr. Berton and Mr. Mary said Mr. Abdeslam had indicated that he no longer wanted legal representation, adding that they believed he would continue to remain silent. Under French law, Mr. Abdeslam is not required to have a lawyer for the duration of the investigation, but he will have to retain one, or be assigned one, at trial. Mr. Abdeslam eluded capture for months after the attacks but But he “We simply cannot speak for a man who is keeping quiet,” Mr. Mary told L’Obs. French and Belgian investigators have said there is evidence that Mr. Abdeslam was heavily involved in preparations for the attacks, which killed 130 people in Paris and the northern suburb of St.-Denis on the night of Nov. 13. He rented at least one safe house, bought materials used in explosives and drove across Europe to pick up other suspects. But his exact role during the attacks has not been firmly established, and investigators were hoping that Mr. Abdeslam would shed light on his actions that night, as well as on the wider network of Islamic State militants who carried out the attacks in France and Mr. Berton and Mr. Mary blamed the French authorities for Mr. Abdeslam’s silence, arguing that he had initially been open to cooperation, but that the conditions of his detention — he is in solitary confinement and under constant video surveillance — had changed his mind. “When someone is watching your comings and goings 24 hours a day with an infrared camera, even at night, it drives you crazy,” Mr. Berton In July, France’s top administrative court rejected Mr. Berton’s request to end the surveillance, arguing that it was necessary to prevent him from committing suicide.