This week, judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) heard closing arguments from the prosecution in the trial against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui. The prosecution’s main arguments are discussed here. The following section briefly summarizes additional questions from the judges. How Did Katanga Exercise Authority Over the Ngiti Combatants? Katanga exercised his authority ... Continue reading
This week, the second trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) sat to hear closing arguments. Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui are accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly perpetrated during an attack on Bogoro, a village in eastern DRC, in February 2003. The accused, who deny all charges against them, ... Continue reading
Beginning tomorrow and lasting into next week, Trial Chamber II at the International Criminal Court (ICC) will hear closing arguments in the case against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui. This is only the second case to reach this stage at the ICC and presents many “firsts” for the court. A briefing on the closing ... Continue reading
February
8
2012
The Prosecution May Still Charge Witness 159 with Contempt
The prosecution called Witness 159 to testify in March 2010. The witness testified that he was present during the February 2003 attack on Bogoro. He said, “The attack of February 2003 started at 5:00 in the morning. Nobody explained to me about this attack. These are events which I saw myself given that I was ... Continue reading
February
1
2012
Asylum Lawyers Seek Status Conference
On Monday, lawyers representing three defense witnesses who have sought asylum in the Netherlands petitioned Trial Chamber II for a status conference. The lawyers want the opportunity to present oral submissions on the continued detention of the witnesses in the International Criminal Court (ICC) Detention Center. In particular, the lawyers contend that the witnesses have ... Continue reading
January
30
2012
ICC Judges Visit Bogoro and surrounding Villages
From January 16 to 20, judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) took a site visit to Bogoro and surrounding villages in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo. The visit allowed the judges to see the scene of the alleged crimes that took place in Bogoro in February 2004. The judges were also able to visit ... Continue reading
In late December, the Amsterdam District Court ruled that three witnesses, who testified before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the trial of Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo, must have their asylum claims processed under Dutch asylum law. The three Congolese witnesses testified in defense of the two accused. These three witnesses have been detained in ... Continue reading
January
9
2012
Closing Arguments Scheduled for May 15, 2012
Judges from Trial Chamber II at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have ordered the parties to submit their written final arguments in preparation for the closing statements, which are to begin on May 15, 2012. Upon receiving the briefs and hearing oral arguments, the judges will deliberate and then make a final determination on the ... Continue reading
November
16
2011
Ngudjolo Concludes his Testimony, Trial Ending
This report covers testimony from October 27 – November 11, 2011 in the International Criminal Court (ICC) trial of Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui. After two years, the trial of Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo is ending. The last witness, accused Mathieu Ngudjolo, has completed his testimony. Now that witness testimony has concluded, the Judges ... Continue reading
November
8
2011
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Failure to Address Impunity for International Crimes: A View from Inside the Legislative Process 2010-2011
The trials of Thomas Lubanga, Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo are coming to a close before the ICC. But what about justice for the millions of other victims of the DRC’s conflict that have not been the subject of ICC charges? In this guest commentary, Patryk Labuda[i] critiques the DRC’s attempts to create domestic justice ... Continue reading
