Monday, 26 April 2010- Lubanga Trial to resume on Thursday 29 April

The Lubanga trial will commence following the spring judicial recess on Thursday 29 April.  Proceedings were originally scheduled to commence on the 21 April, but the flight chaos across Europe meant that two of the Trial Chamber I Judges were prevented  from travelling back to The Hague in time for the reopening.  Though the hearing was expected to resume today, the assignment of Presiding Judge Fulford and Judge Odio Benito to the Bemba case has caused further delay. 

Jean Pierre Bemba Gombo, the alleged President of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo MLC, is accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Central African Republic.

On Thursday, the Lubanga Defence team will continue to present evidence in support of its argument that much of the trial has been based on false testimony.  Since the Defence team opened its case on 27 January 2010, fifteen witnesses have been called for Thomas Lubanga to demonstrate that a substantial part of the trial has been fabricated by intermediaries in collaboration with the investigators from the Office of the Prosecutor.  In the Defence´s view, the Prosecution has committed abuse of due process by relying on the statements of dishonest intermediaries when gathering evidence.  As a result, the Lead Defence Councel, Catherine Mabille, announced that after presenting the first twenty witnesses, her team would ask the Judges for a pause in proceedings. Ms. Mabille stated in an interview with Radio Netherlands that, "The trial cannot go on because the false evidence has been so massive that it is difficult for the judges to go on."

If the Judges decide to go on the Defence will call another ten new witnesses to testify.