PROSECUTION WITNESS TESTIFIES THAT HE KILLED MANY

25 September 2001 By

Arusha, September 25, 2001 (FH) - A Rwandan prisoner and self-confessed militiaman testifying in the so-called Cyangugu trial on Tuesday told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that he killed so many people during the 1994 genocide that he could not estimate the number. "I killed many, I do not remember the number.

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I can only ask for pardon as I did a lot of harm," protected witness "LAI" told the court. LAI is the 40th prosecution witness in the trial of three former leaders accused of genocide in Cyangugu, southwest Rwanda. He resumed his testimony on Tuesday, after having it interrupted to accommodate expert witness André Guichaoua, a French sociology professor. The witness said he had been placed in Rwanda's Category Two list of genocide suspects and had so far spent 15 months in detention. LAI was under cross-examination. He denied defence lawyers' suggestions that he was testifying in the hope of getting a reduced sentence in Rwanda. LAI also denied he was giving evidence that contradicted his written statements to UN investigators. The Cyangugu trial groups former prefect Emmanuel Bagambiki, former Transport Minister André Ntagerura and former Cyangugu military barracks commander Samuel Imanishimwe. All have pleaded not guilty to charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for their alleged roles in massacres of Tutsis in Cyangugu during the 1994 genocide. SW/JC/PHD/FH (CY0925e)