RAPE WITNESS FINISHES TESTIFYING AFTER SEVERAL RECESSES

Arusha, July 19, 2001 (FH) - A rape witness who collapsed in court on Wednesday finally finished her testimony on Thursday at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The court took several breaks to allow the witness time to rest and consult with the ICTR doctor who was on hand.

1 minApproximate reading time

The witness was the seventh for the prosecution in the genocide trial of former mayor of Mukingo (northwest Rwanda) Juvenal Kajelijeli. She is a Tutsi, referred to only as "GDO" to protect her identity. GDO said on Wednesday that Kajelijeli had ordered and presided over the rape of her daughter and had also been responsible for the death of her husband and her son. In his cross-examination, Kajelijeli's American lawyer Lennox Hinds dwelt on inconsistencies between the statements GDO made to prosecution investigators last year and her testimony in court. Hinds said it was difficult to know where the truth lay. GDO repeatedly said that she did not know how to read or write, so was unable to correct the statements taken by the investigators, although they had been read out to her. "I am here today," she said. "Ask me anything. Kajelijeli is here, he knows that all I'm saying happened. "The trial adjourned to Monday after the defence indicated that it needed more time to prepare for the next prosecution witness. This comes after the order of witnesses was changed. The case is before Trial Chamber Two of the ICTR, composed of Judges William Sekule of Tanzania (presiding), Arlette Ramaroson of Madagascar and Winston Churchill Matanzima Maqutu of Lesotho. GG/MBR/FH (KJ0719e)