Hirondelle News Agency (Lausanne)
23 October 2008
Arusha — Elie Ndayambaje, former Mayor of Muganza Commune in Butare, southern Rwanda, on trial for genocide and crimes against humanity alongside five others, Thursday denied that he led attacks and killings of ethnic Tutsis at Kabuye Hill in neighbourhood Ndora Commune, where fleeing refugees had sought shelter during the height of the killings in April, 1994.
"I have never handled any fire arms or grenades in my life," the defendant told the three-bench judges of the International criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Ndayambaje is testifying on his own defence for the fourth day running.
Ndayambaje was responding to questions posed by his Canadian lead Defence Counsel, Pierre Boule who quoted part of the testimony by a protected prosecution witness dubbed "EV" alleging that the accused was in a convey of four vehicles, full of assailants and fire arms, arrive at the Kabuye Hill and attacked Tutsi refugees on April 21,1994.
"That testimony [witness EV] is entirely false, I could not have been at that location," he claimed.
Ndayambaje is the last of the six accused to take up the witness stand.
The Examination-in-Chief of the accused continues on Friday. Butare is the largest and longest trial before the UN Court. It started in June 2001.
Other co-accused in the trial are: Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, former Minister for Family and Women Affairs and her son, Arsen Shalom Ntahobali, two former Governors, Alphonse Nteziryayo and Sylvain Nsabimana and former Mayor, Joseph Kanyabashi.
All have pleaded not guilty to 1994 genocide and crimes against humanity.
The Trial is before Chamber II made up of Judges William Sekule of Tanzania (presiding), Arlette Ramaroson (Madagascar) and Solomy Bossa (Uganda).
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