PROSECUTION WITNESS CONTINUES TESTIFYING

Arusha, March 16, 2004 (FH) – Michel Marchand, lead counsel for the former mayor of Ngoma commune in Butare prefecture, Joseph Kanyabashi, on genocide trial with five others, on Tuesday continued cross examining the 39th prosecution witness before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). MARCHand started cross questioning the witness, dubbed QG, on Monday morning.

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During his examination in-chief the witness alleged that Kanyabashi and Alphonse Nteziryayo, former prefect of Butare, and also one of the accused in this trial, had ordered soldiers, communal police and members of Hutu population to hunt and kill Tutsis in April 1994. Counsel Marchand based his cross examination on how the witness fled from his native commune Ngoma to Gisagara market square and was forced by the authorities to go to Kabuye Hill where over 40,000 Tutsis had sought refugee and later killed. Most of the cross examination was held in closed session. The other accused are the former Minister of women and family affairs, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, her son and former militia leader in Butare, Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, another former prefect for Butare Sylvain Nsabimana and former mayor of Muganza commune, Elie Ndayambaje. The trial continues on Wednesday. This case, known as the “Butare trial”, is taking place in Trial Chamber Two of the ICTR, composed of Judge William Hussein Sekule of Tanzania (presiding), Judge Arlette Ramaroson from Madagascar and Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda. NI/CE/FH(BT''0316e)