‘'This marks the end of the evidence phase, and the proceedings are adjourned sine die,'' Presiding Judge Solomy Balungu Bossa concluded after the cross-examination of the defence witness, codenamed T2 to protect his identity.
In his cross-examination, Prosecution Counsel Paul Ng'arua sought to question T2's credibility, suggesting his evidence would be biased because T2 was close to the interim government of which Nzabonimana was a member.
In August, the ICTR admitted evidence from three additional defence witnesses including T2, "in the interests of justice".
The evidence phase in Nzabonimana's trial had earlier been closed on May 6, 2011, after the presentation of 37 defence witnesses. The prosecution fielded a total of 20 witnesses.
Nzabonimana is facing five charges of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, extermination and murder. The Prosecution presents him as the main instigator of the killings in his home prefecture of Gitarama.
Nzabonimana, a member of the former presidential party MRND, was arrested in Tanzania on February 18, 2008. His trial opened on November 9, 2009.
NI/FK/JC
© Hirondelle News Agency