Court grants Mugesera two more weeks

Nyarugenge Intermediate Court in Kigali, yesterday, granted Genocide suspect, Leon Mugesera, two weeks to review his dossier.Citing ‘poor health’ Mugesera, who was deported from Canada early this year, had requested court to grant him a month to review his dossier before his pre-detention hearing begins. “The medical report clearly shows that the drugs prescribed to Mugesera have no side effects.However, the court grants Mugesera two weeks so that he reviews his dossier,” Judge Saudah Murererehe ruled. “By law, Mugesera is entitled a defence counsel, therefore he should be facilitated with all the documents he may need”.His lawyer, Donat Mutunzi, was, however, absent during Thursday’s court session. Mugesera is accused of making an infamous speech in 1992 that allegedly played a major role in sparking the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, in which radical ethnic Hutus killed more than one million Tutsi.The prosecution had earlier accused Mugesera of delaying the case claiming he always came up with excuses that led to the extension of the hearing. This was the third time the Intermediate court gave him an extension.Upon deportation, Mugesera asked the court to give him two months to put his defence team together, after the two months, he asked for another month claiming he still needed to get in touch with his defence counsel.edwin.musoni@newtimes.co.rw

National

Court grants Mugesera two more weeks