Prosecutor v. Ntakirutimana, Case No. ICTR-96-17-T, Judgment and Sentence (Feb. 21, 2003).

Or. : Eng.

TRIAL CHAMBER I

Before Judges:
Erik Mřse, Presiding
Navanethem Pillay
Andrésia Vaz

Registrar: Adama Dieng

Judgement of: 21 February 2003


THE PROSECUTOR
V.
ELIZAPHAN and GÉRARD NTAKIRUTIMANA

Cases No. ICTR-96-10 & ICTR-96-17-T


JUDGEMENT AND SENTENCE

Counsel for the Defence:
Ramsey Clark
David Jacobs

Counsel for the Prosecution:
Charles Adeogun-Phillips
Wallace Kapaya
Boi-Tia Stevens

INDEX

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
  1. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
  2. Jurisdiction of the Tribunal
  3. The Indictments
  4. Statutory Provisions
  5. Confirmation and Initial Appearance
  6. Other Pre-Trial Proceedings
  7. The Trial
  8. Evidentiary Matters
  9. The Accused
CHAPTER II: FACTUAL FINDINGS
  1. Introduction
  2. Specificity of the Indictments
    2.1 Introduction
    2.2 Prosecution
    2.3 Defence
    2.4 Discussion
  3. The Mugonero Indictment
    3.1 Introduction
    3.2 Overview of Events from 6 to 15 April 1994
    3.3 Appeals to Tutsi to Seek Refuge at Mugonero Complex
      3.3.1 Prosecution
      3.3.2 Defence
      3.3.3 Discussion
    3.4 Separation of Tutsi from Other Individuals at the Complex
      3.4.1 Prosecution
      3.4.2 Defence
      3.4.3 Discussion
        (a) Attempted Confinement in Ngoma Adventist Church
        (b) Evacuation and Selective Protection
        (c) Discharge of Non-Tutsi Patients
    3.5 Denial of Treatment to Tutsi Patients
      3.5.1 Prosecution
      3.5.2 Defence
      3.5.3 Discussion
    3.6 Severance of Utilities
      3.6.1 Prosecution
      3.6.2 Defence
      3.6.3 Discussion
    3.7 Procurement of Gendarmes and Ammunition by Gérard Ntakirutimana
      3.7.1 Prosecution
      3.7.2 Defence
      3.7.3 Discussion
    3.8 Events Leading up to the Attack in the Morning of 16 April 1994
      3.8.1 Prosecution
      3.8.2 Defence
      3.8.3 Discussion
        (a) The Letter
        (b) Elizaphan Ntakirutimana's Response to the Letter
        (c) Did Elizaphan Ntakirutimana Convey Attackers?
        (d) Did Gérard Ntakirutimana Convey Attackers?
        (e) Alibi for the Morning of 16 April 1994 (8.00-9.00 a.m.)
    3.9 General Description of the Attack on 16 April 1994
      3.9.1 Prosecution
      3.9.2 Defence
      3.9.3 Discussion
    3.10 Attack on Refugees at ESI Chapel
      3.10.1 Prosecution
      3.10.2 Defence
      3.10.3 Discussion
    3.11 Shooting of Charles Ukobizaba
      3.11.1 Prosecution
      3.11.2 Defence
      3.11.3 Discussion
      3.11.4 Alibi for the Remainder of 16 April (from 9.00 a.m.)
      3.11.5 Finding
    3.12 Shooting of Witness SS
      3.12.1 Prosecution
      3.12.2 Defence
      3.12.3 Discussion
    3.13 Shooting of Other Refugees (Kagemana and Macantaraga)
      3.13.1 Prosecution
      3.13.2 Defence
      3.13.3 Discussion
    3.14 Sighting of Gerard Ntakirutimana in Basement of Hospital
      3.14.1 Prosecution
      3.14.2 Defence
      3.14.3 Discussion
    3.15 Evidence of Superior Responsibility
      3.15.1 Prosecution
      3.15.2 Defence
      3.15.3 Discussion
  4. The Bisesero Indictment
    4.1 Introduction
    4.2 Overview of Alleged Events in the Bisesero Area from 16 April Through June 1994
    4.3 The Accused's Alibi for the Period 17 April to July 1994
      4.3.1 Defence
      4.3.2 Prosecution
      4.3.3 Discussion
    4.4 Shooting of Ignace Rugwizangoga on 17 April 1994 (Witness GG)
      4.4.1 Prosecution
      4.4.2 Defence
      4.4.3 Discussion
    4.5 Murambi Hill on 18 April and Gitwe Hill after 19 April 1994, Possibly May (Witness FF)
      4.5.1 Prosecution
      4.5.2 Defence
      4.5.3 Discussion
    4.6 Gitwe Hill, a Number of Days after 17 April 1994 (Witness KK)
      4.6.1 Prosecution
      4.6.2 Defence
      4.6.3 Discussion
    4.7 Gitwe Primary School, End of April, Beginning of May (Witness HH)
      4.7.1 Prosecution
      4.7.2 Defence
      4.7.3 Discussion
    4.8 Vicinity of Gitwe Primary School, Early May 1994 (Witness DD)
      4.8.1 Prosecution
      4.8.2 Defence
      4.8.3 Discussion
    4.9 Gitwe Hill, Middle of May (Witness XX)
      4.9.1 Prosecution
      4.9.2 Defence
      4.9.3 Discussion
    4.10 Murambi Hill, between May and June 1994 (Witness SS)
      4.10.1 Prosecution
      4.10.2 Defence
      4.10.3 Discussion
    4.11 Kidashya Hill, between April and June 1994 (Witness FF)
      4.11.1 Prosecution
      4.11.2 Defence
      4.11.3 Discussion
    4.12 Nyarutovu Cellule and Gitwa Hill, Middle and Second Half of May 1994 (Witness CC)
      4.12.1 Prosecution
      4.12.2 Defence
      4.12.3 Discussion
        (a) Nyarutovu Cellule
        (b) Gitwa Cellule
    4.13 Kabatwa and Gitwa Hills, End of May 1994 (Witness KK)
      4.13.1 Prosecution
      4.13.2 Defence
      4.13.3 Discussion
    4.14 Mubuga Primary School, Middle of May 1994 (Witness GG)
      4.14.1 Prosecution
      4.14.2 Defence
      4.14.3 Discussion
    4.15 Mubuga Primary School, June 1994 (Witness HH)
      4.15.1 Prosecution
      4.15.2 Defence
      4.15.3 Discussion
    4.16 Mubuga Primary School, June 1994 (Witness SS)
      4.16.1 Prosecution
      4.16.2 Defence
      4.16.3 Discussion
    4.17 Muyira (Muhira) Hill, Middle of May 1994 (Witness GG)
      4.17.1 Prosecution
      4.17.2 Defence
      4.17.3 Discussion
    4.18 Muyira Hill, 13 May 1994 (Witness YY)
      4.18.1 Prosecution
      4.18.2 Defence
      4.18.3 Discussion
    4.19 Muyira Hill, Dege, 20 May 1994 (Witness II)
      4.19.1 Prosecution
      4.19.2 Defence
      4.19.3 Discussion
    4.20 Muyira Hill, Ku Cyapa, May or June 1994 (Witness SS)
      4.20.1 Prosecution
      4.20.2 Defence
      4.20.3 Discussion
    4.21 Muyira Hill and Ku Cyapa, June 1994 (Witness HH)
      4.21.1 Prosecution
      4.21.2 Defence
      4.21.3 Discussion
    4.22 Mutiti Hill, June 1994 (Witness FF)
      4.22.1 Prosecution
      4.22.2 Defence
      4.22.3 Discussion
    4.23 Murambi Church, End of April (Witnesses DD, GG, SS, YY)
      4.23.1 Prosecution
      4.23.2 Defence
      4.23.3 Discussion
        (a) Removal of the Church Roof
        (b) Killings
    4.24 Actions of the Accused at Unspecified Locations in the Bisesero Area (Witnesses YY and HH)
      4.24.1 Prosecution
      4.24.2 Defence
      4.24.3 Discussion
    4.25 Planning Meetings and Distribution of Weapons, June 1994
      4.25.1 Prosecution
      4.25.2 Defence
      4.25.3 Discussion
  5. The Alibi
  6. Character of the Accused Prior to April 1994
    6.1 Defence
      6.1.1 Elizaphan Ntakirutimana
      6.1.2 Gérard Ntakirutimana
    6.2 Prosecution
    6.3 Discussion
      6.3.1 Elizaphan Ntakirutimana
      6.3.2 Gérard Ntakirutimana
  7. Was There A Political Campaign to Falsely Incriminate the Accused?
    7.1 Defence
    7.2 Prosecution
    7.3 Discussion
CHAPTER III: LEGAL FINDINGS
  1. Preliminary Legal Findings
  2. The Mugonero Indictment
    2.1 Count 1A - Genocide
    2.2 Count 1B - Complicity in Genocide
    2.3 Count 2 - Conspiracy to Commit Genocide
    2.4 Count 3 - Crime Against Humanity (Murder)
    2.5 Count 4 - Crime Against Humanity (Extermination)
    2.6 Count 5 - Crime Against Humanity (Other Inhumane Acts)
    2.7 Charges of Individual Criminal Responsibility as a Superior Against Gérard Ntakirutimana
  3. The Bisesero Indictment
    3.1 Count 1 - Genocide
    3.2 Count 2 - Complicity in Genocide
    3.3 Count 3 - Conspiracy to Commit Genocide
    3.4 Count 4 - Crime Against Humanity (Murder)
    3.5 Count 5 - Crime Against Humanity (Extermination)
    3.6 Count 6 - Crime Against Humanity (Other Inhumane Acts)
    3.7 Count 7 - Violations of Common Article 3 and Additional Protocol II
  4. Legal Issues Raised by the Defence
CHAPTER IV: VERDICT
CHAPTER V: SENTENCING
  1. Applicable Provisions
  2. Purposes and Principles of Sentencing
  3. Submissions of the Parties
    3.1 Prosecution
    3.2 Defence
  4. Discussion
    4.1 Elizaphan Ntakirutimana
      4.1.1 Mitigating Circumstances
      4.1.2 Aggravating Circumstances
      4.1.3 Conclusion
    4.2 Gérard Ntakirutimana
      4.2.1 Mitigating Circumstances
      4.2.2 Aggravating Circumstances
      4.2.3 Conclusion
    4.3 Sentences Imposed in Other Cases of Relevance to the Present Case
  5. Imposition of Sentence
    5.1 Sentence for Elizaphan Ntakirutimana
    5.2 Sentence for Gérard Ntakirutimana
  6. Credit for Time Served and Execution of Sentence
ANNEX I: Indictment ICTR-96-10 (Mugonero) (2.3 mb)
ANNEX II: Indictment ICTR -96-17 (Bisesero) (618 kb)
ANNEX III: Map of Bisesero (Prosecution Exhibit P7B, p. 5) (587 kb)
ANNEX IV: Index of Abbreviations (Judgements)