WRITTEN STATEMENTS WERE NOT RECORDED PROPERLY, SAYS WITNESS

Arusha, March 9, 2004 (FH) – The 37th prosecution witness in the “Butare trial” that groups six genocide suspects told the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Tuesday that some of his written statements were not recorded correctly. The witness dubbed FAU to conceal his identity was being cross examined by Pierre Boule, lead counsel for the former mayor of Muganza commune, Elie Ndayambaje, one of the accused in this trial.

He wanted to know why there were contradictions between the witness's oral and written statements. Counsel Boule relied on two different statements made by the witness, one on December 29, 1999 when he confessed before Rwandan authorities that he participated in the massacres, and the other made to the ICTR investigators on February 22, 2001. The disagreement between Boule and the witness concerned the number of bodies FAU allegedly saw at Mukabuga or Makopekope market in Muganza commune during the massacres in 1994. The witness said “I am not in a position to know but they were more than two. ” Not satisfied with the answer the counsel asked again whether the witness saw “30 bodies”. FAU only answered “several bodies”. In his confession FAU mentioned that he saw 30 bodies following the killings at the market. Later in the day, the chamber was compelled to adjourn as Counsel Boule did not feel well. It is expected to continue on Wednesday. The other co-accused in this trial 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 of Butare, Alphonse Nteziryayo and the former mayor of Ngoma commune, Joseph Kanyabashi. 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''0309e)

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