ICC - Constitution of Trial Chamber I
Press Release
Constitution of Trial Chamber I
ICC-CPI-20070307-210
Situation: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Case: Prosecutor v. Mr Thomas Lubanga Dyilo
On 6 March 2007 the Presidency of the International Criminal Court issued a Decision constituting Trial Chamber I.
According to the Decision, Trial Chamber I is composed of Judge Elizabeth Odio Benito, Judge René Blattmann, and Judge Adrian Fulford. The case of The Prosecutor v Thomas Lubanga Dyilo has been referred to the new Trial Chamber.
Background
Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the alleged founder and President of the Union des Patriotes Congolais (UPC) and alleged former Commander-in-Chief of the Forces Patriotiques pour la Libération du Congo (FPLC), was arrested in Kinshasa and transferred to The Hague on 17 March, 2006. Mr Lubanga Dyilo made his initial appearance before the Court on 20 March 2006.
On 28 August 2006, the judges of the Pre-Trial Chamber I received documents containing the charges and list of evidence against the suspect by the Office of the Prosecutor. He is charged of the war crime of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of fifteen years into armed forces or groups and using them to participate actively in hostilities, under Article 8(2)(e)(vii) Rome Statute.
The confirmation of charges hearing took place from 9 to 28 November 2006.
On 29 January 2007, Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed the charges brought by the Prosecutor of the Court against Mr Lubanga Dyilo and committed him for trial.
On 30 January 2007, the Counsel for Defence filed an appeal to the Appeals Chamber against the Pre-Trial Chamber I decision confirming the charges.
On 5 February 2007, the Prosecution and the Defence submitted to the Pre-Trial Chamber I an application for leave to appeal its decision on the confirmation of charges.
For more information contact Ms Sonia Robla at +31 (0)70 515 80 89