Kigali — The Military Prosecution has said it will line up over sixty witnesses to testify against jailed Maj. Gen. Laurent Munyakazi in the ongoing genocide trial at the Military Tribunal chambers in Nyamirambo. According to the Chief Military Prosecutor Maj. Christopher Bizimungu, some of the witnesses are genocide survivors, while others are the accused's former army colleagues.
He added that one of the witnesses was Cpl. Benoit Karekezi, who was Munyakazi's escort during the genocide.
"Until today, people are still registering in large numbers to challenge him," Bizimungu told the three-man panel led by the Tribunal President, Maj. Gen. Karenzi Karake.
In mitigation, Munyakazi, who is accused with twelve counts, said that some individuals have been harboring ill intentions against him since his integration into the victorious force.
"To demonstrate this, all the testimonies right from the Gacaca sessions mid-last year are contradicting one another. For example, the dates on which various people have accused me of taking seventeen people from St. Famille Church are contradicting," Munyakazi said.
He said that the people who have been plotting against him include former MP Donatien Rugema and Senator Elie Mpayimana.
"They launched a media campaign against me through articles published in L'ere de Liberte, a newspaper that was managed by Mpayimana and they later made a list on which various people signed saying that I should be prosecuted," the former Second Division Commander, said.
During the course of the session, Bizimungu moved a motion saying that Mpayimana had come to give his testimony before proceeding to his duties, but judge Karake rejected it by saying it was not yet time for testimonies.
Meanwhile, prosecution averred that it has strong conviction in its witnesses especially the 'prime witness'.
The seven-hour uninterrupted session broke off with the President saying that the court will resume today June 15, with a tour to the site from where Munyakazi is alleged to have committed the crimes.
It is after the site visit that testimonies from witnesses will be heard.
