Kigali, Rwanda – (African Boulevard News) – The trial of Philippe Hategekimana, a former Rwandan police officer who was naturalized as Philippe Manier in France, is set to enter a decisive phase in the Paris Assizes court on Wednesday. He is accused of playing a role in the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda.
Hategekimana, who was arrested in France in 2017, is the first genocide suspect to be extradited to Rwanda from France. Prosecutors allege that he was part of a group of policemen who killed Tutsi civilians in the capital, Kigali, during the 1994 genocide.
The trial, which began on June 13, has heard testimony from survivors and witnesses who have described the brutal violence that took place during the genocide. Hategekimana’s defense team has argued that their client is not guilty of the charges and that he was not in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide.
Despite the defense’s claims, the prosecution has presented evidence that they say proves that Hategekimana was present and actively participated in the killings. A former colleague of Hategekimana’s, who testified in court, described him as “a man who killed without hesitation.”
The trial is being closely watched, particularly in Rwanda, where the government has welcomed the extradition of Hategekimana and hopes that it will set a precedent for other countries to follow.
“This trial sends a strong message to other countries that they cannot be a safe haven for genocide suspects,” Rwanda’s justice minister, Johnston Busingye, said in a statement.
The trial also highlights the issue of international justice and the challenges of prosecuting crimes committed in one country in another jurisdiction. As Patrick Baudouin, president of the International Federation for Human Rights, explained, “It is necessary to have a universal justice system because impunity is a problem for humanity, and it is essential that the perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity are held to account.”
The trial is expected to conclude on June 24, with the verdict expected shortly after. If found guilty, Hategekimana could face life imprisonment.
