ICC Appeals Chamber to hold hearings in the Lubanga case on 14-15 April 2014
The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has scheduled a hearing on 14 and 15 April 2014 in the case The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. The hearing will be held to allow the parties and participants to orally address the Appeals Chamber and for the Judges to hear the testimony of two additional witnesses.
The hearing will be a public hearing held in the presence of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, his Defence Counsel, the Prosecution and the Legal Representatives of the Victims. Mr Lubanga Dyilo may address the Appeals Chamber at the closure of the hearing. An order setting out a precise timetable for the hearing, including for the hearing of witnesses D-0040 and D-0041, will be issued in due course.
The Appeals Chamber in this appeal is composed of Judge Erkki Kourula (Presiding Judge in this appeal), Judge Sang-Hyun Song, Judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng, Judge Anita Ušacka, and Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova.
Background: The Trial Chamber rendered the conviction decision in the Lubanga case on 14 March 2012. It was subsequently appealed by the Defence. The decision sentencing Mr Lubanga to 14 years imprisonment was rendered on 10 July 2012 and subsequently appealed by the Defence and the Office of the Prosecutor. Following the two-day hearing, the Judges will make their decision on these appeals in due course.
Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, founder of the Union des patriotes congolais [Union of Congolese Patriots] (UPC) and the Force patriotiques pour la libération du Congo [Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo] (FPLC), former Commander-in-Chief of the FPLC and president of the UPC, was found guilty on 14 March 2012 by Trial Chamber I, as co-perpetrator, of committing the war crimes of the enlistment and conscription of children under the age of 15 into the FPLC and using them to participate actively in hostilities between September 2002 and August 2003. On 10 July 2012, he was sentenced to a total period of 14 years of imprisonment. On 7 August 2012, Trial Chamber I issued a decision on the principles to be applied for reparations to victims in the case. All three decisions are currently subject to appeals. Mr Lubanga Dyilo remains in the Court’s custody.
Further information on this case is available here.
Scheduling order for a hearing before the Appeals Chamber– 21 March 2014
Further order regarding the conduct of the hearing of the Appeals Chamber - 25 March 2014
Webstreaming of the hearing
The hearing can be followed with 30 minutes delay on the ICC website at:
Attending the hearing
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Journalists wishing to cover the hearing are kindly invited to request attendance via email to:
[email protected]. All journalists must present a valid press card at the public entrance of the Court, located at Regulusweg (The Hague).
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Members of the diplomatic corps, NGOs and other members of the public wishing to attend the hearing are kindly invited to request attendance via email to:
[email protected]. Attendees must present a valid passport or valid ID with a photo at the public entrance of the Court, located at Regulusweg (The Hague).
Please note that individuals who do not confirm their attendance in advance cannot be guaranteed access to the hearing.
For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at:
[email protected].
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