ICTR: Nzabonimana judgement set for March

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) will at the end of next month deliver two judgments regarding the trials of former Youth Minister Callixte Nzabonimana and former military officer, Ildephonse Nizeyimana.The Tribunal’s President, Khalida Rachid Khan, made the pronouncement during a meeting of ICTR staff members recently.Nzabonimana is charged with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, extermination and murder, as well as crimes against humanity.The Prosecution presents Nzabonimana as the main instigator of the killings in his home area in the then Gitarama prefecture, now Muhanga, Southern Province.As Chairman of the former ruling party – MRND – in Gitarama prefecture, and a serving minister in 1994, the prosecution alleges that Nzabonimana was a person of great prominence and consequently was able to wield considerable influence within his local community and civilians and law enforcement agents likely followed his orders.During the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis, Nzabonimana is alleged to have encouraged the killings of Tutsis at various locations in his home commune of Nyabikenke.Born in 1953, the former minister was arrested on February 18, 2008, in Tanzania.ICTR conducted closing arguments in Nzabonimana’s case in October last year, when the prosecution pushed for a life imprisonment.His trial opened on November 9, 2009 and concluded on September 12, 2011.The prosecution called 20 witnesses, while the defence fielded 38.

National

ICTR: Nzabonimana judgement set for March