The trial of the former prefect of Gikongoro, accused of complicity in the genocide in Rwanda, opened on Monday May 9 at the Paris assizes. As soon as the trial opened, Laurent Bucyibaruta’s lawyers pleaded for its cancellation.
” Why wait 22 years for the opening of a trial ? “Asked Laurent Bucyibaruta’s lawyer at the start of the hearing. ” This trial comes far too late. The conditions for a fair trial are not met pleaded Maître Jean-Marie Biju-Duval, before adding that his 78-year-old client is no longer in a condition to defend himself and that four key defense witnesses have died in recent years. The wife of the former civil servant – “a Tutsi”, specifies the defense – is also no longer in a condition to come and testify on his behalf.
A refugee in the east of France since 1997, Laurent Bucyibaruta was arrested in 2000. His trial should last two months. He is the highest Rwandan official ever tried in France for crimes related to the 1994 genocide.
But the defense insists that being tried within a reasonable time is a fundamental right. She therefore requested a mistrial. Lawyers for the civil parties reacted immediately, arguing that a fair trial is also a fundamental right for victims.
The lawyers of the various organizations that are civil parties – the Licra, the Human Rights League, Survival or even Ibuka – recalled that crimes against humanity are imprescriptible and can be tried 15, 20 years after the facts. They asked the jurors not to lose sight of the seriousness of the charges.
After more than an hour of deliberation, the six jurors found that the accused is fit to stand trial and that this late trial did not in any way constitute an infringement of his fundamental rights. Throughout this first day of hearing, the accused, present in the room, remained silent, seated in his chair.