Tuesday, 30 March 2010- Defence Witness 14 testifies via video link from Ituri

The hearing resumes after a tedious week during which the Defence presented most of its evidence in private. Today, Lubanga´s lawyers call the thirteenth witness, Witness 14. But there is nobody in the witness box. Witness 14 testifies via video link from Ituri, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Defence argued that this is an "extremely vulnerable" witness and her travel to The Hague would cause her great prejudice and harm.  Witness 14 is in her mid forties and lives in extreme poverty in a remote, rural area. She has never travelled before.

Witness 14´s evidence is important for the Defence case. She is the mother of a Prosecution witness who claimed his mother was dead. She maintains, on the contrary, that she was living with her child until he was 3 years old and that they met after the war in Ituri.

After consultation with the Victims and Witness Unit, the three judges allowed the Defence to use the remote facility. The Chamber believes this is a reasonable option to protect the witness´ psychological well-being.

Presiding Judge Fulford says that Witness 14 will be accompanied by a psychologist during the course of her evidence. "She needs to be treated very carefully," warns the Judge to the trial teams. "Counsels must put short questions in a way which must be understandable. The witness must not be upset."

The Court connects with Ituri. The pixilated image of Witness 14 appears on the public screens. But it lasts for seconds. Soon after it vanishes.  Judge Fulford greets the woman looking at his monitor. "Can you hear me?" says the Judge smiling. Immediately he asks to proceed in close session. Blinds go slowly down.