Victims’ lawyers deliver closing in Habre Trial; verdict anticipated in May: In the trial of former Chadian president, Hissene Habre, lawyers representing the civil parties have begun closing arguments, which are expected to last two days. Philippe Houssine, lawyer for the Chadian state as well as victims, summarized a number of accounts of witness testimonies, including prison inmates summarily executed or forced to dig their graves. Stress positions were also used, according to witnesses. Houssine argued that Habre was aware of what happened because he had personally created the DDS. The verdict is expected in May. (theguardian)
UN Report cites detainee killings in Syria: On Monday 8 February 2016 a UN commission reported that thousands of detainees have been
killed while in the custody of the warring parties in Syria over the past four and a half years. Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria said “Nearly every surviving detainee has emerged from custody having suffered unimaginable abuses.” He also stated “For ordinary Syrians, the spectre of arrest or abduction and the near-inevitable horrors that follow have paralyzed communities across the country” The report is based on 621 interviews and documentary material and details how civilians have been arbitrarily arrested, unlawfully detained, taken hostage or kidnapped in the thousands. The report further details how thousands of detainees held by the Government have been beaten to death or died as a result of injuries sustained due to torture. (UN News Centre)
Tolimir, former Bosnian Serb accused of war crimes in Srebrenica, dies in prison: Bosnian Serb General Zdravko Tolimir, who was serving a life sentence for genocide, including that which occurred at Srebrenica during the war in Bosnia in the 1990’s, died at The Hague on Monday evening according to a court spokesman. Tolimir had been waiting transfer to a prison in one of the court’s sponsoring countries when he fell ill, received medical attention, and passed away. The cause of his death was not disclosed, but last February he notified the court that he had four stents placed in his heart. Milorad Dodik, present of Bosnia’s autonomous Serb Republic said in a statement “[t]his is a grave loss not only for the family and friends but also for all Serb people.” Tolimir reported directly to Ratko Mladic, commander of the Bosnian Serb forces, who is still on trial at the ICTY. (Reuters)
ICC Judge in Gbagbo Case apologizes for accidentally revealing witness names: On Friday, 5 February 2016 the prosecutor, who reportedly believed the microphone was off, mentioned the names of several witnesses which was heard in the public gallery, in the trial of Laurent Gbagbo. Presiding judge Cuno Tarfusser gave a formal apology stating, “What happened on Friday afternoon…is of utmost and inexcusable gravity for which the chamber, but I would say the whole ICC, apologises.” He also stated “It is of such gravity that the chamber has ordered an internal investigation in order to find out how this could have happened.” Tarfusser also urged everyone to be calm, and warned that any attempt to interfere with or unmask witnesses was a criminal offence. Gbagbo’s trial resumed with cross-examination of prosecution witness P547 by defence lawyers after Tarfusser’s apology. (BBC News, Yahoo! News)
The post 9 February 2016 – NEWS ABOUT THE COURTS; Habre Trial closing statements, UN report on Syria, ICTY convicted Tolimir dies, ICC apologises for witnesses named appeared first on ICL Media Review.