A case in which former minister of justice Agnes Ntamabyariro is on trial for Genocide crimes has been adjourned to October 15 at the High Court in Nyamirambo. She is standing trial for her alleged involvement in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.For the second time in three days, the case failed to take off on Wednesday after Ntamabyariro’s lawyer failed to show up in court. On Monday, court adjourned the case because the prosecutor Emmanuel Nsengiyumva was unable to attend the session. No reasons were given for the absence of Ntamabyariro’s lawyer. Presiding Judge Judith Mbabazi adjourned to October 15 when most of the witnesses are expected to be in court. “There is no problem, it is their right to have their lawyers, but dates should be in close proximity since the case has been adjourned,” he added. Normally, when a case gets over adjourned, a decision can be taken to try the accused despite the absence of a lawyer. Ntamabyariro and co-accused Fanuel Nsengiyumva, a former secretary in Gitarama prosecutor’s office, and Leonard Hategekimana who was at one time a vice prosecutor in the same office, are accused of playing part in mass killings and other human rights crimes during the 1994 Genocide. Ntamabyariro and Fanuel Nsengiyumva had appeared before the court to defend themselves against following pinning testimony from Hategekimana, one of the accused. The trio is accused of having incited the killings, and playing part in the murder the then Butare prefect Jean Baptiste Nsengiyumva, prominent businessman Modeste Yadusengeye. Ntamabyariro’s trial has so far made 21 appearances before court. Ends
