UN tribunal set to hear defence of 3 accused of using media to incite Rwanda genocide

The joint trial of three Rwandans accused of using the media to incite people to commit genocide in 1994 is scheduled to resume on Monday, the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) announced today.

In July, the prosecution rested its case against Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, Ferdinand Nahimana and Hassan Ngeze, who are on trial for genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and complicity in genocide.

On Monday, the defence is expected to contend that the prosecution has failed to set out a sufficient case to sustain a conviction, according to the ICTR. If the Trial Chamber agrees, it will acquit the defendants on any or all of the counts applicable. If the motions fail, the defence will proceed with its part of the trial.

Mr. Ngeze also faces an additional count of murder as a crime against humanity while Mr. Barayagwiza is charged with two other counts of violations of the 1949 Geneva Convention for the Protection of War Victims.