Kigali — The Prosecution at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda May 2-3, called for the conviction of Jean Mpambara, the former Bourgmestre of Rukara Commune in former Kibungo prefecture, and the imposition of a life imprisonment sentence. In the closing submission before Trial Chamber I, the Prosecution argued that the evidence presented in court proved that Mpambara committed genocide. It also contended the accused organized and executed killings in Rukara commune, including at the Gahini Hospital and Rukara Parish, leading to the death of more than 2,500 persons were killed.

The Prosecution further argued that Mpambara took part in a number of massacres of Tutsi civilians in Rukara commune in eastern Rwanda, between 7 and 16 April 1994. The trial of Jean Mpambara commenced on September 19, 2005 before Trial Chamber I, composed of Judges Jai Ram Reddy of Fiji (presiding), Sergei Alekseevich Egorov of Russia, and Flavia Lattanzi of Italy. Senior Trial Attorney Richard Karegyesa of Uganda leads the Prosecution. The Prosecution presented ten witnesses over eight trial days, and the Defense called sixteen witnesses over eighteen trial days, making it one of the shortest trials in the history of the Tribunal.

In addition to Jean Mpambara, 26 accused persons are presently on trial or awaiting judgment. The Tribunal has handed down judgments involving 27 persons, of whom 24 were convicted and three acquitted.