ARUSHA-The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) will today pass a judgement in the case of six Genocide suspects, including Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, former Minister for Family and Women Affairs.

The so-called "Butare Trial” which started in 2001, is one of the longest running in the history of the ICTR with Nyiramasuhuko being the first woman to be charged with Genocide by the UN court.

The suspects in the trial led by Nyiramasuhuko are accused of spearheading massacres in the former Butare Prefecture (now Southern Province).

Others include her son, Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, former Governors Sylvain Nsabimana and Alphonse Nteziryayo,  as well as Joseph Kanyabashi and Elie Ndayambaje, former Mayors of Ngoma and Muganza communes respectively.

"On Friday 24 June 2011 at 10:00 a.m., Trial Chamber II composed of Judges William H. Sekule, presiding, Arlette Ramaroson and Solomy Balungi Bossa, will deliver its judgement in the case of the "Prosecutor vs.  Pauline Nyiramasuhuko et al.” reads an ICTR statement.

Prosecutor Holo Makwaia has requested that all of them be sentenced to life imprisonment, arguing that they were all involved in intentional and systematic killing of thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians in Butare.

"The prosecutor submits that he has proven beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused on all the counts of which they stand charged before you. Therefore, the prosecutor requests that all of them are sentenced to the maximum penalty, that is imprisonment for the remainder of their lives,” Makwaia, said in the closing arguments.

The judgement will be broadcast live via the ICTR satellite.

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