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}On Tuesday, the ICTR sentenced to life imprisonment Gatete, former Director in the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs, after convicting him of genocide, and extermination, as a crime against humanity.
It found beyond reasonable doubt that Gatete was responsible for deaths of hundreds, and possibly thousands of Tutsis at three different massacre sites in the Eastern Rwanda between April 7 and 12, 1994.
On the other hand the Appeals Chamber of ICTR confirmed Friday the life imprisonment sentence and 15-year-jail term imposed on Col. Tharicisse Renzaho, ex-prefect of Kigali-Ville and Lt-Col. Tharcisse Muvunyi, respectively, after dismissing appeals lodged to challenge the verdicts.
The Chamber upheld Renzaho's conviction of genocide, murder as crime against humanity for being responsible of ordering killings in various areas in Kigali-Ville prefecture including those of Tutsi refugees at Saint Famille Church.
As for Muvunyi, the Chamber confirmed his conviction of direct and public incitement to commit genocide for giving a speech at Gikore Centre, Butare Prefecture (Southern Rwanda) in May, 1994, allegedly leading to killings of Tutsis.
Before the same Tribunal, there was an appeal hearing in the case of two former Rwandan military officers, including Colonel Theoneste Bagosora, ex- Director of Cabinet in the Ministry of Defence and Lieutenant-Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva, former commander of the military sector of Gisenyi (northern Rwanda).
Both the prosecution and defence presented their arguments with the prosecution seeking for confirmation of life imprisonment sentence meted out against each of the appellant, while the defence sought for acquittal, citing inadequate evidence presented during the trial against the duo.
At the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, presentation of defence case for Thomas Lubanga' resumed on Wednesday with the hearing of a witness after a four-month break. The former Congolese rebel is charged with crimes against humanity for enlisting children under 15 years in his troops.
FK/NI/GF
© Hirondelle News Agency