The prosecution in the genocide case against Rwandan born Francois Bazaramba continues to insist that the defendant took part in the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
The prosecutor told the Helsinki Court of Appeals on Wednesday that there were eyewitness reports as well as written evidence, including letters written by Bazaramba himself.
Bazaramba is currently appealing the life sentence that was imposed on him for genocide last year. The court found that Bazaramba had led attacks against Tutsis in the Nyakizu area, and gave orders for killings.
More than 40 prosecution witnesses testified during the trial.
“Most of these are people who have said that they saw these events with their own eyes”, said State Prosecutor Raija Toiviainen.
Bazaramba, who worked as a clergyman in Rwanda, continues to maintain his innocence. He has said that he put his life at risk trying to save Tutsis, and says that blaming Hutus living abroad for the genocide has been a tactic used by Rwanda’s current government for boosting its position.
The defence has questioned the reliability of the accounts of the prosecution witnesses. Defence lawyer Ville Hoikkala has said that some of the African witnesses were prisoners, and were persuaded to testify in exchange for freedom.
