The trial of Philippe Hategekimana , also known as Biguma, alleged for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, primarily in Nyanza district where he served as a senior police officer, has commenced at the Cour d’assises de Paris, in France.
Hategekimana, 66, faces charges of orchestrating the murder of Tutsis and establishing roadblocks to intercept and execute Tutsis in the hills of Nyamure and Nyabubare, as well as the former Ntyazo, Nyabisindu, and Rusatira communes—all located in southern Rwanda.
ALSO READ: Survivors welcome trial of Genocide fugitive in France
Marie Louise Uwizeyimana, a journalist from Pax Press covering the trial in Paris, reports that the court is currently hearing testimony from expert witnesses with in-depth knowledge of Rwanda's history.
Several experts, including Helene Dumas, Vincent Depaigne, Alain Verhaagen, and Stephane Audoin-Rouzeau, have already provided their testimonies in court.
Their role in the trial is to offer a comprehensive account of Rwanda's history. This is crucial to ensure that all parties involved have a clear understanding of the context in which the alleged crimes occurred. Following this, the court will proceed to hear testimonies from other witnesses, including individuals who worked alongside Hategekimana and survivors.
ALSO READ: Genocide fugitive arrested in Cameroon
Hategekimana appeared in court with noticeable reliance on crutches for support. Uwizeyimana reports that his lawyers informed her that he had recently undergone knee surgery, which unfortunately experienced complications. However, prior to the trial's commencement, the court had arranged for an expert evaluation to determine Hategekimana's fitness to stand trial. After a thorough assessment, the expert concluded that he was indeed capable of attending and participating in the proceedings.
His legal team has stated that the court is aware of his condition, and any decisions regarding his health will be communicated accordingly.
Hategekimana fled to France and obtained refugee status under the false identity of Phillippe Manier. He later worked as a university security guard in Rennes and acquired French citizenship in 2005.
However, media reports indicate that the fugitive fled France for Cameroon in late 2017 following press coverage of a complaint filed against him by the Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda—an organization dedicated to bringing genocide fugitives to justice.
In 2018, he was apprehended in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon, and subsequently extradited to France. Since 2019, he has been in custody awaiting trial.
The trial, which commenced on May 10 and is expected to conclude on June 30, marks the fifth trial in France of an alleged participant in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.