On June 6, 2012, a Referral Chamber at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) ordered Munyagishari’s case to be referred to Rwandan justice.
The prosecution and defence, thereafter, lodged notices of appeal to challenge the decision in question. But since then, only the prosecution has lodged its appeal brief. “No defence briefs have been filed because they are waiting for translation of the decision and our brief into French. No idea when that will be completed,” James Arguin, Chief of Appeals and Legal Advisory Division at the ICTR Prosecutor’s Office, told Hirondelle News Agency on Wednesday.
The 60 page of the referral decision and the 21 sheets of the prosecution’s appeals brief were issued in English, while the defence team is francophone.
Once transferred, Munyagishari, ex-President of Interahamwe and Secretary of then Rwandan ruling party at prefectural level, will face charges of conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide or, in the alternative, complicity in genocide, murder and rape as crimes against humanity.
FK/NI/GF
