Former Khmer Rouge prison chief Kaing Guek Eav - alias Duch - has sacked his international lawyer just weeks before the verdict in his war crimes trial.

Duch cited “loss of confidence” in his decision to dismiss his French lawyer Francois Roux as counsel at the UN-backed Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

During the closing arguments of Duch’s 77-day trial in November, Duch’s Cambodian lawyer Kar Savuth split with Roux by supporting their client’s change of plea and request for acquittal and release.

The surprise move reversed the defence team’s earlier strategy. Duch initially pleaded guilty to overseeing the murder of around 12,000 people at the notorious Tuol Sleng prison, and emphasized his remorse and cooperation with the court in pushing for a mitigated sentence.

Roux at the time said the change in plea was a “bad surprise” and apparently linked to political interference in the trial. Duch will continue to be represented by Savuth, who also works for Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, a staunch critic of the Phnom Penh based tribunal.

Duch will receive the verdict in his case on July 26th. The joint trial of four other more senior Khmer Rouge leaders is expected to start in 2011. In the meantime, the court is considering whether to open new cases against five other former Khmer Rouge cadres.

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