Verdict to be issued in Canada

2009-05-22 11:35

Montreal - A Rwandan man accused of leading attacks during his country's 1994 genocide could become the first person convicted under a new Canadian war crimes law that allows residents to be tried for crimes committed abroad.

Desire Munyaneza, 42, faces a possible life sentence if he is convicted on Friday on charges that include genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for his alleged role in the rape and slaughter of at least 500 000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda. His defence says witnesses did not properly identify him.

Munyaneza, a Hutu, is the first defendant to be tried under the 7-year-old War Crimes Act, a law backers hail as a sign of Canada's significance in the international justice community.

"This case should add weight to the argument that Canada does not allow war criminals to reside here and hopefully will send a deterrent message as well that those who are seeking to hide from their responsibilities should not consider Canada as a place to come," said Bruce Broomhall, an international criminal law professor at the University of Quebec at Montreal.

Munyaneza was living in Toronto when he was arrested in October 2005 after reports that he had been seen circulating among Canada's Rwandan community.

At the time, African Rights, a Rwandan group that has documented the genocide, linked Munyaneza to key figures indicted by the UN International Criminal Tribunal.

React accordingly

During his trial, more than 66 witnesses testified in Montreal, and in depositions in Rwanda, France and Kenya, often behind closed doors to protect their identities. Many accused Munyaneza, who was 27 at the time, of being a ground-level leader in a militia group that raped and murdered dozens.

Munyaneza's defence cantered on claims that many of the witnesses' testimony was faulty and that many were unable to identify his prominent facial scar.

Canada denied Munyaneza refugee status in September 2000 and he has since lost several appeals. Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board also found there were reasons to believe he had participated in crimes against humanity.

Defence lawyer Richard Perras has said Munyaneza has been under a lot of stress awaiting the verdict but offered few comments beyond that.

"What will happen will happen and we'll react accordingly afterwards," he said this week.

Any decision is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, Broomhall said.

- AP