Reparations Center for Victims of War Crimes

The second trial of accused before the International Criminal Court is scheduled to open on Tuesday, November 24.  The case of Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngdolo Chui is the result of an investigation which began with a referral by the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Katanga and Chui are alleged to have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity including rape, sexual slavery and the recruitment of child soldiers.

 The court described the plan for proceedings for the first day in a press release:

Tuesday’s hearing will start with the reading, by a Court official, of the charges against Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui (duration, 30 minutes). Presiding Judge, Bruno Cotte will then satisfy himself, through the Defence Counsel, that the accused have understood the nature of the charges. He will further recall to the Defence that each of the accused has the opportunity to say at this stage whether he will plead guilty or not guilty, pursuant to 64 (8)(a) of the Rome Statute (duration, one hour). The Court’s Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, will then take the floor for the opening statement (duration, one hour). He will be followed by the Legal Representatives of the Victims Fidel Nsita Luvengika and Jean-Louis Gilissen (duration, 40 minutes). Finally, the Defence Counsel for each of the accused will also proceed with opening statements (duration, 1 hour and 15 minutes). The full press release is available here.

Katanga first appeared before the ICC on October 27, 2007, Chui on February 11, 2008.  Their cases were combined for the confirmation of charges hearing, and the court issued its order confirming the charges on September 26, 2008.

The first case to proceed to trial, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, also from the DRC is currently on hold awaiting a decision on whether or not additional charges may be added after the commencement of the trial. 

The trials are broadcast on the ICC website, with a 30 minute delay.