The New Times (Kigali)

Rwanda: Mugesera's Lawyer Quits

Photo: New Times
Leon Mugesera

The defence lawyer of genocide suspect, Leon Mugesera, has stepped down on claims that he has never been paid for the services he offered.

Donat Mutunzi has since January been the sole defence lawyer in the case.

Mugesera's case is yet to start as he is still battling with the pre-trial session which has taken about four months rotating in both the Intermediate and High courts

Speaking to The New Times, Mutunzi neither confirmed nor denied that he stepped down and instead referred the newspaper to a story published by the ICTR news agency, Hillondelle news.

"No comment is a comment, just take that...but there is a story written about me on Hillondelle news website," said Mutunzi

Hillondelle news quoted him saying his client has not paid him a single coin ever since he started defending him.

"Ever since he arrived in Rwanda, he has not given me a single coin and I have not been able to communicate with members of his family, this is not pro bono," Mutunzi told Hillondelle news

In a related development, the High Court, yesterday, rejected Mugesera's appeal against a decision by the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court which denied him two more months to study his dossier.

No date has been set yet for the next court session in the intermediate court.

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Rwanda: High Court Rejects Mugesera's Appeal

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The High Court has rejected the appeal of genocide suspect Leon Mugesera to be granted more time to study his dossier before the start of his trial. Read more »