The East Uusimaa District Court in Porvoo has heard the final arguments in the trial of Francois Bazaramba, a Rwandan man suspected of involvement in the 1994 genocide in his country.
The court will give its verdict on June 11th.
In its closing arguments, the defence in the case stipulated that Bazaramba should be acquitted because the prosecution witnesses are unreliable.
The defence has made the same argument on several occasions during the trial - that the witnesses have been tortured in prison to pressure them to turn against others.
Defence lawyer Ingrid Heickell said that she hopes that the court could “delete the defective files”.
The head of the defence team, Ville Hoikkala believes that the verdict will have an important bearing internationally as well, as it will indicate how much credence can be given to statements by prisoners.
The prosecution maintains that there was no evidence that any testimony had been acquired through torture. The prosecutors made their closing statements last week.
Bazaramba himself is nervously waiting for the court’s decision, Hoikkala says.
“He has been satisfied with the treatment that has been afforded him during the trial.”
The costs of the trial have exceeded EUR 1 million.
