Ngeze in row with defence

Rwandan genocide suspect, Hassan Ngeze, on Thursday said that he wanted his new lawyer, Rene Martel, fired over the sacking of three defence investigators, the Hirondelle news agency reported. In a letter dated 15 February, Ngeze accused Martel of "hatching that plot" to sack investigators, and told John Floyd (a lead counsel): "I assume that from now on, Attorney Rene Martel is no longer my counsel". Ngeze also said that Martel had, as a lawyer, violated his code of conduct by "not coming to see me to study the case with me and get instructions on how to defend it before the court despite my request to do so". But lead counsel, Floyd, said Ngeze had no power to sack Martel. "There is zero chance," Floyd said. "I'm the lead counsel and I won't fire him."

Meanwhile, the Internews press agency reported that Ngeze's lawyers were "awaiting the outcome of a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether Ngeze is fit to stand trial". It said the Tribunal registry had ordered the psychiatric evaluation, after approval by an ICTR doctor. Ngeze has been boycotting his trial since Monday last week, claiming that his rights have been grossly violated. Among other things, he claims that UN staff stole, copied or destroyed vital defence documents during a security search of his prison cell on 10 January.