The 75 year old Munyakazi pleaded not guilty to genocide or alternatively complicity in genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity.
He is specifically alleged to have led interahamwe militiamen from Bugarama commune, Cyangugu prefecture (south-western Rwanda) where he lived to attack and kill Tutsis who had sought refugee in various churches in the region including those at Nyamasheke, Mibilizi and Shangi parishes.
During the closing arguments in January, the prosecution requested a maximum penalty of life imprisonment be imposed on the accused whereas the defence asked for the acquittal.
Munyakazi's trial started on 22 April, 2009. The prosecutor rested his case on June 4, after having called 12 witnesses and the defence did the same on October 15 after presenting 20 witnesses including the defendant himself.
The defendant was arrested in May 2004 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he lived as an Imam under the name of Mzee Mandevu (literally meaning in Kiswahili language, the bearded old man).
Munyakazi's defence team is led by Tanzanian Professor Jwani Mwaikusa whereas Nigerian Segun Jegede led the prosecution before Trial Chamber I, presided by Judge Florence Rita Arrey from Cameroon.
NI/ER/GF
© Hirondelle News Agency
