Germain Katanga

Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court issued a decision today, 31 August 2009, postponing the commencement of the trial in the case The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui until 24 November 2009. The Chamber found that compelling reasons require that the date of 24 September 2009 initially set for the commencement of the trial be put back.

The Chamber announced that it would ensure an expeditious trial consonant with the Rome Statute and the rules, and that the time the Prosecutor needs to present his evidence is not unduly long. The Chamber underscored that several recently raised issues must be adjudicated before the trial can begin:

- the changes required to the table submitted by the Prosecutor at the request of the Chamber presenting all the evidence and the list of witnesses he intends to call. The purpose of that document is is to provide a properly structured presentation of prosecutorial evidence, particularly for the Defence;

- the need for the parties to reach agreement on evidentiary issues and for the Chamber to rule on the Defence for Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui's request regarding the admissibility and relevance of more than 290 pieces of evidence submitted by the Prosecutor;

- the need for the Chamber to rule on the Defence for Germain Katanga's motion of 30 June that his arrest and detention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo be declared unlawful and that the proceedings be stayed;

- the possible changes to the protective measures for witnesses called in this case, in particular those also called in the Lubanga case who have been granted protective measures by another Trial Chamber.

For these reasons, Trial Chamber II has decided to postpone the commencement of the trial in the case of The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui and to convene a status conference on 30 September 2009 at 9:30 am (The Hague local time).

1. • Report: Uganda LRA rebels 'on massive forced recruitment drive' (August 12, 2010)
2. • ICC suspends release of Thomas Lubanga (July 23, 2010)
3. • ICC orders the release of Thomas Lubanga (July 15, 2010)
4. • ICC rejects Germain Katanga's motion to suspend trial (July 12, 2010)
5. • ICC suspends Thomas Lubanga trial (July 8, 2010)
6. • ICC: Jean-Pierre Bemba trial postponed (July 7, 2010)
7. • The ICC signs enforcement agreements with Belgium, Denmark, and Finland (June 1, 2010)
8. • ICC: Jean-Pierre Bemba trial postponed (March 8, 2010)
9. • Lubanga Witness Says He Was Paid US$200 To Tell Lies (February 8, 2010)
10. • ICC: Thomas Lubanga Defence Questions Witness Credibility (January 30, 2010)
11. • Ugandan rebels murder, rape, mutilate, displace thousands in DR Congo, Sudan - UN (December 21, 2009)
12. • ICC reverses decision on the interim release of Jean-Pierre Bemba (December 2, 2009)
13. • ICC: Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui trial starts on Tuesday (November 23, 2009)
14. • Amnesty International: more prosecutions should follow for war crimes in the Kivus (November 19, 2009)
15. • ICC: Germain Katanga's appeal dismissed (September 25, 2009)
16. • UN mission in DR Congo denies Ntanganda's role in military operation (September 10, 2009)
17. • ICC: Jean-Pierre Bemba interim release suspended pending final decision on appeal (September 3, 2009)
18. • ICC Prosecutor appeals decision to release Jean-Pierre Bemba (August 25, 2009)
19. • International Criminal Court gives Jean-Pierre Bemba conditional release (August 14, 2009)
20. • More work remains to ensure justice for war crimes victims, says head of ICC (July 17, 2009)
21. • Jean-Pierre Bemba Allowed to Attend Mass for His Father in Brussels (July 7, 2009)
22. • Senator Jeannot Bemba Saolona Dies at 67 (July 3, 2009)
23. • Congo Denies Instigating ICC Charges Against Former VP Bemba (June 16, 2009)
24. • ICC Orders War Crimes Charges Against Former Congo Vice President (June 15, 2009)
25. • Witness Claims Lubanga Visited Training Camp (June 5, 2009)
26. • Congo ex-rebel 'working with UN' (April 29, 2009)
27. • Negotiations between Kinshasa and CNDP Rebels to End Friday (February 20, 2009)
28. • Thomas Lubanga will remain under custody of the ICC pending final decision on appeal (July 7, 2008)
29. • Ituri warlord faces first trial at ICC in The Hague (March 21, 2006)

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