(LegalLaw247.com, March 01, 2012 ) The Hague -- Situation: Democratic Republic of the Congo; Case: The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo
Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will deliver its decision on the innocence or guilt of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo (in accordance with article 74 of the Rome Statute) in a public hearing on 14 March 2012 at 10.00 a.m. (The Hague local time). Practical information on how to attend such session will be announced in a separate media advisory at a later stage.
The trial against Mr Lubanga Dyilo is the first trial before the ICC. It started on 26 January 2009 and the closing statements were presented by the parties and participants on 25 and 26 August 2011. In accordance with the Rome Statute, in order to convict the accused, the Chamber must be convinced of the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. In the event of a conviction, the Chamber will later consider the appropriate sentence to be imposed. Irrespective of whether the accused is acquitted or convicted, the Court is required to establish the principles to be applied in relation to reparations, and it may make orders as regards awards of reparations to victims.
At present, 14 cases have been brought before the Court of which 4 are at the trial stage. In total 7 situations are currently under investigation in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Darfur (Sudan), Kenya, Libya and Cte dIvoire.
Background information
Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, a national of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is accused of having committed, as a co-perpetrator, the war crimes of enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15 years into the Forces patriotiques pour la libration du Congo (Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of the Congo) (FPLC), and using them to participate actively in hostilities in Ituri, a district of the eastern province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, between September 2002 and August 2003. Following his surrender to the Court, he was transferred to The Hague on 17 March 2006, pursuant to a warrant of arrest issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I.
Over the course of 204 days of hearings, the Chamber, comprising Judge Adrian Fulford (presiding judge), Judge Elizabeth Odio Benito and Judge Ren Blattmann, heard 36 witnesses called by the Office of the Prosecutor, including 3 experts, 24 witnesses called by the Defence and 3 witnesses called by the legal representatives of the victims participating in the proceedings. The Chamber also called 4 experts to testify.
A total of 129 victims, represented by two teams of legal representatives and the Office of Public Counsel for Victims, were granted the right to participate in the trial. They have been authorised to present submissions and to examine witnesses on specific issues.
For further information, please click here.
Order scheduling the delivery of the Decision pursuant to Article 74 of the Rome Statute
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For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int.
The International Criminal Court (ICC)
Fadi El Abdallah
+31 (0)70 515-9152
fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int
Source: EmailWire.Com
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