13.10.08 - RWANDA/GACACA - GACACA COURT ORDERS PROBE OF DEFENDANT WHO APPEARED BEFORE TWO COURTS

Kigali, 13 October 2008 (FH) - Virginia Mukasekuru, 75, was accused Sunday before the Appellate Court of Cyivugiza for having appeared before the semi-traditional Gacaca Court of Cyivugiza and Rugarama in the Nyamirambo sector for the same indictment for which she was already convicted, reports Hirondelle Agency.

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Classified in the second category of the perpetrators of the genocide, the old woman is accused of having killed a man named Musafiri, complicity in the murder of a young woman named Beatrice, looting and robbing of corpses", according to the indictment.

Pleading not guilty, before the court of the Cyivugiza, Mrs. Mukasekuru had been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison on 15 July 2007. On 6 August, beyond the scheduled deadline, she appealed. But in December, she once again appeared before the court of the Rugarama sector which sentenced her to 25 years in prison with the possibility of doing community service and to benefit from a suspended sentence.

"How did you find yourself in Rugarama for the same trial as in Cyivugiza, as you had been convicted? In prison, do you have the status of a person sentenced to life in prison or a candidate for community service? ", asked her Mr. Musefano Mister, President of the Court.

"I do not know... I was requested to appear and I appeared", explained the old woman. After having served more than 13 years in prison, her last sentence to 25 years in prison enables her to be released and benefit from community service. "I am unaware of my current status, since I remain in prison", she added.

After deliberation, the court deferred the trial in order to investigate into these irregularities

SRE/PB/MM/SC

© Hirondelle News Agency