"He (Nizeyimana) smiled. He showed that he was satisfied and to demonstrate that he bought beers to all those who were in the officers' mess," Gahizi, who was testifying for prosecution against Nizeyimana, said in response to a question by the judges, who wanted to know the defendant's reaction after he was informed of fulfillment of the mission.
The witness who was stationed at the Non-Commissioned Officers School (ESO) in Butare (South Rwanda) claimed that the Tutsi queen was killed by Second Lieutenant Jean Pierre Bizimana on the order of Nizeyimana. He said Bizimana informed Nizeyimana of accomplishment of the mission on the killing of the queen when they were in the officers' mess.
"Nizeyimana had asked him when we were in the officers' mess. There were several people in the mess and when they are coming from the killings in the evening they would speak about that. Bizimana said they have accomplished the mission. They have killed Queen Rosalie Gicanda," the witness further narrated.
Asked by Senior Trial Attorney Drew White on which distance he was when Bizimana was reporting to Nizeyimana on the accomplish of the mission in question, the witness, who was at a rank of Sergeant at the time, hastily responded, "we had a small or narrow officers' mess. Everyone could hear what was said."
The defence was supposed to cross-examine the witness before adjournment of the trial to Tuesday. Capt. Nizeyimana is charged with genocide, extermination, murder and rape. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
FK/ER/GF
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