03.05.10 - ICTR/NZABONIMANA - NZABONIMANA’S TRIAL CONTINUES IN CLOSED SESSION

3 May 2010 By

Arusha, May 3, 2010 (FH) - Trial of former Rwandan Youth Minister, Callixte Nzabonimana, Monday entered the fourth week of the defence case while most of the witnesses continued to testify in closed sessions before the Arusha-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

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‘'We hold most of our sessions behind bars because we want to have thorough scrutiny of the case and the defence witnesses without the risk of revealing their identity,'' the accused's lead French defence counsel Vincent Courcelle-Labrousse told Hirondelle News Agency Monday.

He said protected defence witness code-named ‘'T24'' now being cross examined by the prosecution was the seventh out of the 30 witnesses which his team expects to present before the Chamber.

Nzabonimana is facing five charges of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, extermination and murder. He has denied the charges.

His defence case started on April 14, 2010. The prosecution rested its case on April 13 after presentation of 19 witnesses.

The trial continues Tuesday.

NI/SC