Before:
Judge Theodor MERON, Presiding 
Judge Florence MUMBA
Judge Mehmet GÜNEY
Judge Wolfgang SCHOMBURG
Judge Inés Mónica WEINBERG DE ROCA

Registrar:  Mr. Adama Dieng  

Date:          13 December 2004

THE PROSECUTOR
v.
Elizaphan Ntakirutimana and GÉrard Ntakirutimana
Cases Nos. ICTR-96-10-A and ICTR-96-17-A

JUDGEMENT

I. INTRODUCTION

A. The Appellants. 2
B. The Judgement and Sentence. 2
C. The Appeals. 3
D. Standards for Appellate Review... 4

II. APPEAL OF GÉRARD NTAKIRUTIMANA. 6

A. Legal Errors. 6

1. The Indictments. 6

(a) Double Jeopardy. 6
(b) Failure to Plead Material Facts. 7

2. The Burden of Proof 42

(a) Assessing the Detention of Witness OO.. 42
(b) Assessing Uncorroborated Alibi Testimony. 44
(c) Declining to Make Findings of Fact in Favour of the Accused. 46
(d) Relying on Credible Testimony as Background Evidence. 47
(e) Reference to Prior Consistent Statements. 48
(f) Application of the Presumption of Innocence. 52
(g) Consideration of the Alibi 56
(h) Consideration of Allegation of a “Political Campaign”. 58
(i) Consideration of Testimony of Prosecution Witnesses. 58

3. Other Errors of Law Asserted by Gérard Ntakirutimana. 59

B. Factual Errors. 60

1. Mugonero Indictment 60

(a) Procurement of Ammunition and Gendarmes (Witness OO) 60
(b) The Shooting of Charles Ukobizaba at Mugonero (Witnesses HH and GG) 72
(c) Attack on Refugees at the Mugonero Complex (Witness SS) 87
(d) Attacks on Refugees at the Mugonero Complex (Witnesses YY, GG, HH, SS) 91

2. Bisesero Indictment 95

(a) The Bisesero Findings Based Solely on Testimony of Witness FF. 95
(b) The Bisesero Findings Based Solely on Testimony of Witness HH.. 96
(c) The Bisesero Findings Based Solely on Testimony of Witness YY.. 97
(d) The Bisesero Findings Based Solely on Testimony of Witness GG.. 97
(e) The Bisesero Findings Based Solely on Testimony of Witness SS. 97
(f) Attending Planning Meetings (Witness UU) 97

III. APPEAL OF ELIZAPHAN NTAKIRUTIMANA 99

A. The Mugonero Indictment. 99
B. Insufficiency of Evidence to Establish That Tutsi Refugees at Mugonero Complex Were Targeted Solely on the Basis of their Ethnicity.. 100
C. Bisesero Indictment. 100

1. Nyarutovu Cellule and Gitwa Hill (Witness CC) 101

(a) Sufficiency of Notice. 102
(b) Discrepancies in the Evidence. 102

2. Murambi Hill (Witness SS) 105

(a) Lack of Notice. 106
(b) Insufficiency of Evidence. 106
(c) Delivery of the Letter 107
(d) Sighting of Gérard Ntakirutimana. 107
(e) Witness Coaching. 108

3. Muyira Hill – Ku Cyapa (Witness SS) 108

(a) Lack of Notice. 108
(b) Insufficiency of Evidence. 109

4. Murambi Church (Witnesses YY, DD, GG and SS) 110

(a) Shooting of Refugees. 110
(b) Removal of the Roof 112

D. Lack of Intent to Commit Genocide. 113
E. Aiding and Abetting Genocide. 115
F. Lack of Credibility in the Prosecution Case. 117
G. Failure of the Prosecution to Provide Notice. 119
H. Defence Testimony Raised a Reasonable Doubt. 119

1. Mugonero Complex: 16 April 1994. 119
2. Gishyita: From 16 April 1994 to End of April or Beginning May 1994. 120
3. Return to Mugonero: End of April to Mid-July 1994. 120
4. Error of Law by Drawing an Adverse Inference. 121
5. Alibi of Gérard Ntakirutimana for the Morning of 16 April 1994. 122

I. Failure to Consider the Appellants’ Motion to Dismiss. 123