31.08.11 - ICTR/CASES - BUSY SCHEDULE AT ICTR IN SEPTEMBER

Arusha, August 31, 2011 (FH) - The month of September will be very busy at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) with nine cases in hand, including the continuation of special deposition proceedings in the case of most wanted genocide-fugitive Felicien Kabuga on Tuesday.  Hearing of four other cases before Trial Chambers and three appeals before Appeals Chambers are also scheduled.

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SPECIAL DEPOSITION PROCEEDINGS

The special deposition proceedings in the case of Felicien Kabuga, who is considered as financier of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, are scheduled to resume on September 6. Judge Vagn Joensen, the Vice-president of ICTR, is conducting the proceedings in total closed session. The prosecution has called 21 witnesses since the commencement of the proceedings on May 28, 2011. This is not a trial per se, but the exercise aims at preserving evidence for a future trial if Kabuga were to be arrested.

OTHER TRIALS IN DIFFERENT CHAMBERS

Trial of Nizeyimana: The trial of former Rwandan military officer, Captain Ildephonse Nizeyimana, resumes on September 6, with the hearing of additional evidence from defence witness BNN07. The defence case was officially declared closed on June 16, 2011.

Trial of Nzabonimana: The case involving ex-Youth Minister Callixte Nzabonimana comes on September 12, when the prosecution will cross-examine two additional defence witnesses following the admission of their written statements in favor of the accused. The evidence phase of the trial had earlier being declared closed on May 6, 2011.

Resumption of Ngirabatware defence case: The defence hearing in the case of former Planning Minister Augustin Ngirabatware will resume on September 19. So far the defence has called 16 witnesses. The session is expected to continue until October 31. The Trial Chamber has ordered the defence to reduce its remaining 42 witnesses to 19.

Conclusion of trial of Mayor Ndahimana: The parties in the case involving former Rwandan Mayor Grégoire Ndahimana will present their closing arguments on September 21 and 22, 2011. Ndahimana, who was mayor of Kivumu Commune in Kibuye prefecture (West Rwanda), is accused of planning massacres of more than 2000 Tutsis who sought refuge at the Nyange Church between April 14 and 16, 1994, jointly with other influential people.   

CASES BEFORE APPEALS CHAMBER

Appeal hearing in the case of Ntawukulilyayo: The Appeals Chamber will hear the appeal of former Rwandan Deputy Governor, Dominique Ntawukulilyayo, on September 26, 2011. Ntawukulilyayo was convicted of genocide on August 3, 2010 and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. The majority of the judges found him liable for transporting soldiers to Kabuye hill, Butare Prefecture (South Rwanda), who later joined other assailants in killings of Tutsi refugees on April 23, 1994.

Hearing of appeal in Ntabakuze's case: The appeal hearing in the case of ex-Commander of the Rwandan Para-Commando Battalion, Major Aloys Ntabakuze, has been scheduled for September 27. The former Rwandan military officer was convicted for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes on December 18, 2008 alongside two other officers, Colonel Theoneste Bagosora and Lieutenant Colonel Aloys Nsengiyumva. They were all sentenced to life imprisonment. The hearing of the two other convicts was heard on March 30, 2011, but that of Major Ntabakuze was delayed following the failure of his former Lead counsel, American lawyer Peter Erlinder, to show up.

Appeal judgement delivery in the case of Munyakazi: The Appeals Chamber will deliver its judgement in the case of genocide-convict, Yussuf Munyakazi, on September 28, 2011. The 76-year old former Rwandan landowner was sentenced to 25 years jail term by ICTR for genocide and crimes against humanity (extermination) on June 30, 2010. The Muslim elder was specifically found liable on the killings of approximately 5,000 Tutsis who took refugee at Shangi parish and the other group of Tutsis housed at Mibilizi church in Cyangugu Prefecture, South-West Rwanda on April 29 and 30, 1994.   

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