Lubanga verdict set for this month

The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced it willMarch 14th deliver its first ever verdict, issuing a judgment in the war crimes trial of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo.Lubanga, who hails from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is accused of participating in the recruitment of child soldiers among other war crimes. He is accused, with others, of having committed war crimes by enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15 into the rebel group known as the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo, and using them to participate actively in hostilities in Ituri district in north-eastern DRC between September 2002 and August 2003. His trial started in January 2009 and the closing arguments were presented by both parties in August last year. A total of 129 victims participated in the trial, three of whom testified at the bidding of their legal representatives. Over the course of 204 days of hearings, the trial auditioned 36 prosecution witnesses, 24 defence witnesses and four experts. Three of the prosecution witnesses were expert witnesses.Lubanga, who was president of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), a political group that prosecutors claim had an armed wing that used child soldiers, has been in ICC detention since March 16, 2006. In accordance with the Rome Statute that established the ICC, to convict an accused person, the trial chamber must be convinced of his or her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. In the event of a conviction, the trial chamber is expected to consider an appropriate sentence. Irrespective of whether the accused is acquitted or convicted, the court is required to establish the principles to be applied in relation to reparations, and it may make orders regarding awards of reparations to victims. Lubanga was transferred to The Hague, where the ICC is based, in March 2006 after his surrender following a warrant of arrest that had been issued against him. Currently, 14 cases have been brought before the ICC, including four that have reached trial stage.

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Lubanga verdict set for this month