Prosecutors have asked judges for leave to appeal a July decision that new charges could be brought against Thomas Lubanga. The addition of new charges at this stage in the trial, prosecutors argue in their August 12 filing, would “significantly affect the fairness of the proceedings” and allow the accused to be “tried and…
Judges reprimanded prosecutors today for an inadequate response to victims’ attorneys, who want charges against defendant Thomas Lubanga expanded to include sexual slavery and cruel treatment. “The prosecution [response] in present form fails to address issues raised [by the victims' lawyers],” presiding Judge Adrian Fulford told prosecutors. “It would be helpful to us to have…
A former officer in the militia of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) testified this week that child soldiers were among the bodyguards of accused leader Thomas Lubanga. Lubanga, the president of UPC, is on trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15 and…
Experts in the trial of accused Congolese leader Thomas Lubanga this week struggled to confirm the ages of child soldiers said to have been part of the Union of Congolese Patriots, UPC. The specialists in age determination testified at the International Criminal Court (ICC) that based on x-ray images, some may have been as young…
As the International Criminal Court (ICC) prepares to resume the trial of accused Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga in early May, witness protection has emerged as a key concern. This was immediately apparent when the prosecution’s first witness recanted his story and told the court that he had been coached on what to say by…
The defense lawyer for Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga told the court on Wednesday that she needs better access to her client. Catherine Mabille said defense team members are spending most of their lunch in discussions with Lubanga, and have less than an hour and a half in the evening with the accused, nearly all…
The prosecution continued to build its case against accused Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga this week by presenting witnesses who delivered dramatic and revealing insight into militia life. The prosecution’s eighth witness, whose identity was concealed, described how he became a soldier at the age of 10, after hearing gunshots and seeing people running on…
Two former child soldiers in Thomas Lubanga’s militia this week told the International Criminal Court about the first time they killed in battle and how they are haunted by the memories. Testifying in Swahili, both said fear of being shot by their commanders stopped them from fleeing the gruesome conditions of their training and at…
In an unedited video interview shown in court on Wednesday, defendant Thomas Lubanga denied using child soldiers to fight in his militia. In the video, Lubanga is shown speaking with an unidentified British journalist. Lubanga alleges that it was the Ugandan army who “armed some children” in various militia groups in the Ituri region, not…
The trial of accused Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga was conducted in closed session for most of Thursday at the International Criminal Court (ICC). During the short open session, however, the defense cross-examined Wednesday’s unnamed witness, the father of the child soldier who recanted his testimony last week. The father was a soldier in the…
Thomas Lubanga on trial at the International Criminal Court. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is the first person to be tried by the International Criminal Court. A former rebel leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lubanga is accused of conscripting, enlisting, and using child soldiers. More
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