LIMA, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Peru's Special Penal Court (SPE) Monday suspended the trial of former President Alberto Fujimori until Wednesday after a key witness refused to testify without legal advice.

    During the court's 20th session, Fernando Lecca, a former member of the Colina paramilitary detachment, declined to testify fearing that he might incriminate himself with his testimony.

    Fujimori is being tried on charges of human rights violations related to operations of the Colina group during his 1990-2000 presidency.

    Among the charges is the Barrios Altos massacre in 1991, where paramilitaries killed 15 people including an eight-year-old child in a machine gun attack in Lima suburb. The other is the 1992 kidnap of a group of students and teachers at Lima's La Cantuta University, all still listed as missing.

    Cesar San Martin, president of the SPE's judges, said that Lecca does not have access to the right to silence because he is currently being tried for human rights violations in a court in Lima. In this separate trial he has spoken freely after first promising to tell the truth.

    The court formally asked Lecca to reconsider his decision, saying it would call him again Wednesday. It also warned him that should he refuse to do so, he may be charged with obstructing justice.

    Cesar Nakazaki, Fujimori's defense lawyer, argued to the court that Lecca should be allowed legal advice before making his decision whether to testify.

    Fujimori's trial began in December, with sessions held Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week in the headquarters of the National Police's Special Operations Directorate.