The first trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is about to conclude. The last defence witness in the Lubanga trial ended his testimony on April 18th, for the most part in private session.
Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is on trial for conscripting and using child soldiers in his militia in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002-2003.
The trial, which began on January 26, 2009, has been plagued by delays and nearly ended before it began when prosecutors refused to turn over potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense.
After the trial got back on track, defense lawyers accused prosecutors of abuse of process by allegedly presenting false witnesses who claimed they were coached by prosecution intermediaries.
A final decision on the abuse of process charge will be included in the final judgment. The Trial Chamber scheduled oral arguments for August 25 and 26, 2011.
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