UK court frees four accused of Rwanda genocide
LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - London's High Court freed four men accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda on Wednesday, overturning a ministerial extradition order because of fears they would not get a fair trial.
Interior Minister Jacqui Smith had ordered the return of the four -- accused of killing or conspiring to kill Tutsis -- to Rwanda for trial. Rwanda had agreed to waive the death penalty, if they had been found guilty.
But London's High Court ruled defence witnesses may be afraid to give evidence in any Rwandan trial, the Press Association reported.
"If (the four) were extradited to face trial in the High Court of Rwanda, the appellants would suffer a real risk of a flagrant denial of justice," Lord Justice Laws and Lord Justice Sullivan said.
Vincent Bajinya, a British national and doctor who had changed his name to Brown, Celestin Ugirashebuja, Emmanuel Nteziryayo and Charles Munyaneza had been in custody since 2006.
During 100 days of slaughter in Rwanda in 1994, 800,000 minority Tutsis and politically-moderate Hutus were killed.
Most high profile suspects in the genocide have been prosecuted by the U.N.'s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, based in Tanzania.
The ICTR says suspects referred to Rwanda may not receive a fair trial -- a charge denied by Rwanda.
In February, Finland refused a request from Rwandan authorities for the extradition of a former Rwandan pastor because it feared he would not get a fair trial.
(Reporting by Matt Falloon)
Interior Minister Jacqui Smith had ordered the return of the four -- accused of killing or conspiring to kill Tutsis -- to Rwanda for trial. Rwanda had agreed to waive the death penalty, if they had been found guilty.
But London's High Court ruled defence witnesses may be afraid to give evidence in any Rwandan trial, the Press Association reported.
"If (the four) were extradited to face trial in the High Court of Rwanda, the appellants would suffer a real risk of a flagrant denial of justice," Lord Justice Laws and Lord Justice Sullivan said.
Vincent Bajinya, a British national and doctor who had changed his name to Brown, Celestin Ugirashebuja, Emmanuel Nteziryayo and Charles Munyaneza had been in custody since 2006.
During 100 days of slaughter in Rwanda in 1994, 800,000 minority Tutsis and politically-moderate Hutus were killed.
Most high profile suspects in the genocide have been prosecuted by the U.N.'s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, based in Tanzania.
The ICTR says suspects referred to Rwanda may not receive a fair trial -- a charge denied by Rwanda.
In February, Finland refused a request from Rwandan authorities for the extradition of a former Rwandan pastor because it feared he would not get a fair trial.
(Reporting by Matt Falloon)
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