‘'We do not have any witnesses on hand in Arusha,'' Frederic Weyl, Co-counsel for the accused told the Chamber Presided by Judge Dennis Byron.
Ngirumpatse is jointly tried alongside his Vice President, Edouard Karemera who had already completed his defence case before the Tribunal.
Six witnesses were presented for the defence of Ngirumpatse since the resumption on October 18, making the total number of witnesses already testified for the accused to 21 out of expected 35.
Before the case was adjourned, defence witness and former Rwandan Intelligence Officer, Albert Rukerintare denied that Ngirumpatse could have called upon the population to hate and exterminate Tutsis in 1994. ‘'Mathieu Ngirumpatse is not a person who could make such statements be it in private or public,'' Rukerintare said, adding ‘' that would be ridiculous.''
He explained that Ngirumpatse was among the genuine politicians Rwanda had ever produced.
The prosecutor indicted Ngirumpatse and his co-accused Karemera for seven counts including genocide, complicity in genocide, incitement to commit genocide and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by members of their party and its youth wing, Interahamwe.
NI/ER/GF
© Hirondelle News Agency