Trial Reports

September 1, 2010

Lawyer: Releasing Lubanga Would Deny Victims Justice

By Wairagala Wakabi

A lawyer who represents a group of victims participating in the Thomas Lubanga trial has said victims are concerned about the adverse consequences that could arise from the order for the release of the former Congolese rebel leader. In submissions to appeals judges, Luc Walleyn stated that if the stay of proceedings in the trial…

Trial Reports

August 31, 2010

Victims Say Lubanga Release Would Put Their Lives At Risk

By Wairagala Wakabi

Victims participating in war crimes accused Thomas Lubanga’s trial have told appeals judges that releasing the former Congolese rebel leader would put their lives at risk. In a filing to the appeals chamber, a legal representative of the victims argued that the trial chamber presided over by Judge Adrian Fulford erred when it halted the…

Trial Reports

August 19, 2010

Judges Allow Victims To Participate In Lubanga Release Appeal

By Wairagala Wakabi

Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court have granted victims who are participating in the trial of Thomas Lubanga the right to take part in the prosecution’s appeal against his release. In an August 17, 2010 ruling, the judges stated that the victims should present their views and concerns with respect to their personal interests…

Trial Reports

August 18, 2010

Defense Lawyers Say Halting Lubanga’s ICC Trial Was Inevitable

By Wairagala Wakabi

War crimes accused Thomas Lubanga’s lawyers have asked the appeals chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reject an appeal against the stay of proceedings, stating that the prosecutor had refused to obey orders issued by trial judges. “The suspension of proceedings ordered by the chamber, far from being unjustified or excessive, appears to…

Trial Reports

August 13, 2010

Prosecutor Supports Victims’ Participation In Lubanga Appeal

By Wairagala Wakabi

International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has supported an application by victims participating in the Thomas Lubanga war crimes trial to take part in the appeal against his release. In an August 6, 2010 filing, the prosecutor asked appeals judges to grant all four applications by victims’ lawyers to participate in the appeal proceedings, including…

Trial Reports

August 5, 2010

Victims Ask To Take Part In Lubanga Release Appeal

By Wairagala Wakabi

Lawyers representing victims who are participating in the trial of Thomas Lubanga have asked appeals judges to allow them to become party to the prosecution’s appeal against his release. According to Paolina Massidda, Principal Counsel of the Office of the Public Counsel for Victims at the International Criminal Court (ICC), the participation of victims in…

Trial Reports

August 3, 2010

Prosecutor Says Halting Lubanga Trial Was Erroneous And Excessive

By Wairagala Wakabi

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo claims in an appeal that the order by trial judges for a stay of proceedings in the Thomas Lubanga war crimes trial was erroneous and excessive. While disputing the grounds on which judges based their decision, the prosecutor also contends in a July 30, 2010 filing that the…

Trial Reports

August 2, 2010

Appeals Judges Say Lubanga Should Stay in Detention

By Wairagala Wakabi

On July 23, 2010, appeals judges at the International Court (ICC) ruled that Congolese war crimes accused Thomas Lubanga should stay in detention at The Hague. They ordered that Mr. Lubanga should remain in ICC detention pending the final decision on an appeal filed by prosecutors against an order issued by trial judges for his release.  Trial…

Trial Reports

July 23, 2010

Appeals Judge Excuses Herself from Lubanga Case

By Wairagala Wakabi

One of the appeals chamber judges has excused herself from the panel of judges that will hear a prosecution appeal for the lifting of the stay of proceedings in the war crimes case against former Congolese leader Thomas Lubanga. On July 15, 2010, Judge Akua Kuenyehia filed the request to be excused from sitting in this…

Trial Reports

July 21, 2010

Prosecutors At ICC Oppose Lubanga Release, Claim He Might Flee

By Wairagala Wakabi

Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have asked appeals judges to overturn a trial chamber order for the release of Congolese war crimes accused Thomas Lubanga. The prosecutors would like the appeals chamber to order the continued detention of Mr. Lubanga, the alleged former head of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) whose militia…