‘’We will meet here next Monday to hear the prosecution with very specific information on the last two rebuttal witnesses,’’ said Presiding Judge William Sekule in response to the prosecution request for more time to bring the witnesses.
Updating the Chamber on the witnesses, Prosecution Attorney Wallace Kapaya said both of them, code-named PRW3 and PRW6 were able and willing to come and testify but were held back for different reasons.
As for the PRW3 the prosecution was waiting for the Nigerian government which he said was ‘’dragging its feet ‘’ to grant permission to come for the testimony. On the other hand, PRW6 who is from Senegal was held back by the general elections in the country which ended last Sunday.
‘’We pray for the Trial Chamber’s indulgence for a couple of days as we expect them to arrive before the end of this week,’’ pleaded Kapaya.
Already six out of eight witnesses have given their testimony in attempt to rebut Ngirabatware’s absence in Rwanda during genocide between April 23 and May 23, 1994.
The accused claims that within the period in question he was in Senegal and Swaziland. The ex-minister is charged with conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide or in the alternative, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, extermination and rape as crimes against humanity.
NI/FK