04.03.10 - ICTR/KAREMERA - NZIRORERA'S DEFENCE CASE ADJOURNED TO APRIL 12

Arusha, March 04, 2010 (FH) - The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) Thursday adjourned the defence case of genocide-accused Joseph Nzirorera, former Secretary General of then Rwandan ruling party MRND, to April 12, reports Hirondelle Agency. 

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A total of 31 witnesses have so far testified for Nzirorera. Ten witnesses testified in this session, which resumed on January 18. Nzirorera's defence is the second to testify in the joint trial after Edouard Karemera, ex-MRND Vice President, who completed his case on May 28, last year. Mathieu Ngirumaptse, ex-party president, will be the third and last to give his defence evidence.

Before the adjournment, Solange Akajeneza, daughter of a genocide convict Lt. Col. Ephrem Setako, alleged that she fled with the accused from Kigali town to Mukingo commune, Ruhengeri prefecture, on April 12, 1994 as killings were escalating.

The indictment alleges that on April 12 the defendant and his co-accused were in Kigali giving orders to soldiers and Interamwe militiamen to kill Tutsis.

She further claimed that the family stayed at their house until April 12, when they left in a convey of four vehicles and headed for Mukingo via Gitarama, Gisenyi and Ruhengeri routes between 12 and 1 pm.

The three former leaders are held responsible for their superior responsibility for the crimes allegedly committed by their subordinates.

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© Hirondelle News Agency