11.09.14 – ICC/GBAGBO – ICC CONFIRMS TRIAL FOR IVORIAN EX-PRESIDENT

Arusha, September 11, 2014 (FH) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday rejected a request from the defence of Ivorian ex-president Laurent Gbagbo for leave to appeal the confirmation of charges against him.

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“The decision confirming the charges is now final,” says a statement from the Court. “The Pre-Trial Chamber ordered the Registrar to transmit the case record to the Presidency for constitution of a Trial Chamber, which will be in charge of the conduct of trial proceedings in the case.”

Gbagbo is charged with crimes against humanity committed during post-election violence in Côte d’Ivoire in 2010 and 2011.

He was transferred to the ICC on November 30, 2011 and his first appearance was on December 5 the same year. Following confirmation of charges hearings from February 19 to 28, 2013, the pre-trial chamber adjourned the hearings and asked the Prosecutor to bring more evidence or conduct new investigations.

The court then received additional elements of evidence and observations from the Prosecutor, to which the defence also responded. On June 12, 2014, the pre-trial chamber confirmed four charges of crimes against humanity (murder, rape, other inhumane acts or – in the alternative – attempted murder, and persecution) against Gbagbo.

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