Verdict in Ngenzi, Barahira Genocide trial set for today

The Paris Cour d’Assises, in France, is today expected to pronounce itself on the trial of Genocide suspects Octavian Ngenzi, 58, and Tito Barahira, 64, former mayors of Kabarondo in eastern Rwanda. The mayors of the former Kabarondo Commune (now Kayonza District) between 1977 and 1994 are accused of genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The two-month trial started on May 10. They are accused of especially participating in the killings of Tutsi refugees at Kabarondo Catholic Church in April 1994. Ngenzi is particularly accused of supervising the killing of over 1,200 people who had taken refuge in the church. Both suspects fled Rwanda in 1994. The prosecutor on Monday called for life sentences for the two accused. On Monday, the Advocate General Philippe Courroye began his indictment citing events during 1994. Regarding the church in Kabarondo, Courroye spoke of the influx of refugees from April 7, 1994, ended his submission with the issue of the number of refugees who may have been present during the attack on April 13, and presented reasons why people took refuge in the church. On the stay of refugees in the church, Courroye recalled that Ngenzi never gave instructions to help the refugees, or set up available communal logistics to the population. Food was insufficient and no special protection was granted, he noted. During the last weeks of the trial, Alain Gauthier, the president of the France-based rights group that filed the case, Collectif des Parties Civiles pours le Rwanda (CPCR), told The New Times that given the overwhelming evidence against the duo, “we strongly hope that both will be sentenced for their crimes.” Support for prosecution In March, a new non-governmental organisation, “Les Amis du CPCR,” (ACPCR) (Friends of CPCR) was launched in Rwanda to morally and financially support CPCR in the duration of the “very costly” court cases against Genocide suspects in France. ACPCR president Ezéchias Rwabuhihi yesterday said that, like the prosecutor submitted on Monday, they also hope the jury hands the two men a life sentence. “Today [Tuesday] defence will present their last case and even if I don’t know what they are up to, anyone can guess. But we believe the jury will finally take into consideration the preponderance of the evidence presented in court and give a life sentence,” Rwabuhihi said. “Our wish is no different from that of the prosecutor. These men only deserve life in prison because of the crimes against humanity they helped commit at the church in Kabarondo.” By press time, Ibuka president Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu could not be reached for a comment but at the onset of the trial, he had requested that the case be expedited since evidence against the two was more than enough. Before his arrest in Toulouse in southwestern France in April 2013, Barahira disguised himself by changing his name to Barahirwa. Ngenzi was arrested in Mayotte islands in 2010. France in March 2014 held its first Genocide trial – that of Pascal Simbikangwa, an intelligence chief of the regime that planned the massacre of one million people. At the trial’s conclusion, prosecutors sought a life sentence but he was handed a 25-year prison sentence for genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity. Simbikangwa appealed and the hearing is set for October 25 to December 9 at the Cour d’Assises de Bobigny, in northeastern of Paris. CPCR has so far filed 28 complaints with the investigating judges of the “pôle crimes contre l’humanité” established in January 2012 in the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Verdict in Ngenzi, Barahira Genocide trial set for today