Former Senator in court today over Genocide

Former Senator Anastase Nzirasanaho is scheduled to appear before the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court, today, to answer genocide-related charges, prosecution spokesperson Alain Mukuralinda confirmed yesterday.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Former Senator Anastase Nzirasanaho is scheduled to appear before the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court, today, to answer genocide-related charges, prosecution spokesperson Alain Mukuralinda confirmed yesterday.Nzirasanaho is currently not in detention, according to Mukuralinda.His trial was originally before the Muhima Gacaca court in 2009, but the traditional court did not have the jurisdiction to try a first category case.The first category consists of masterminds of the Genocide. Nzirasanaho is accused of complicity in the killing of Dr Theoneste Gafaranga during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He denied the charges in  2009.Both Dr Gafaranga and Nzirasanaho were senior members the Social Democratic Party (PSD). Witnesses say Nzirasanaho aided the murder of Dr Gafaranga, who had been named in the transitional government as a representative of PSD.Nzirasanaho, who claimed during the Gacaca trial to have been a confidant of Dr Gafaranga, could not explain why he blocked a passage in his fence, which was being used to ferry food to Dr Gafaranga.