5 18. In its January 16, 2002 note, the Court forwarded the brief on preliminary objections to the representatives of the alleged victim and to the Inter-American Commission, granting them one month to submit whatever observations they deemed pertinent. On February 15 and 20, respectively, the Inter-American Commission and the representatives of the alleged victim submitted their observations to the brief on preliminary objections filed by the State. 19. On September 12, 2002 the Secretariat asked the State, the Commission and the representatives of the alleged victim to send the definitive list of witnesses and expert witnesses, whose testimony and expert opinions they would offer at a possible public hearing on preliminary objections and possible determination of the merits and reparations in this case. The parties supplied the information requested on September 21 and 26, 2002. 20. On October 2, 2002 the Secretariat, under instructions by the President, asked the State, the Commission and the representatives of the alleged victim to send whatever observations they deemed pertinent regarding inclusion of two new witnesses by the State and the change of an expert witness proposed by the representatives of the alleged victim. 21. On October 11, 2002, the representatives of the alleged victim stated that they had no objection to the Court hearing the two new witnesses offered by the State. The Inter-American Commission and the State did not submit the observations requested. 22. In his November 30, 2002 Order, the President summoned the representatives of the alleged victim, the Inter-American Commission and the State to a public hearing to be held at the seat of the Court commencing on March 3, 2003, with the aim of hearing the testimony of the witnesses and the expert opinions offered by the parties, and it pointed out that the latter could submit their final verbal pleadings. Within one month of the end of the public hearing, they could also submit their final written pleadings. 23. The Court held the aforementioned public hearing (supra 22) on March 3, 4 and 5, 2003. There appeared before the Court, For the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: Martha Braga, legal assistant; and María Claudia Pulido, legal assistant. For the representatives of the next of kin of the alleged victim: Juan Carlos Gutiérrez, representative; Francisco Quintana, representative; Luguely Cunillera, representative; and Milton Jiménez Puerto, representative. For the State of Honduras: Sergio Zavala Leiva, agent; y