One life sentence for genocide, 31 suspects acquitted

Meanwhile, a man convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Nyamata court, the Rwanda News Agency (RNA) reported on Wednesday. Eighteen others received sentences of between seven and 20 years while 31 suspects were released from detention. The trial started on 19 April. RNA quoted Nyamata prosecutor James Sevagamba as saying some of the 31 suspects were acquitted because of lack of evidence, while others were found to be not guilty. $10 million from US to speed up justice Rwandan radio reported on Tuesday that the United States was to provide US$ 10 million to support the Rwandan judiciary. The donation was announced by US Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues, David Scheffer. “I’m here to talk with government officials and with the office of the prosecutor of the Arusha Tribunal in Kigali about how to keep moving forward on bringing justice from the 1994 genocide,” Scheffer said. The US official said his government would provide the funding in support of Rwanda’s domestic justice initiatives - including the possible use of traditional ‘Gacaca Law’, though its use has yet to be passed by parliament - to speed up the justice process.