Staff Writer
The 66-year-old former Rwandan gendarme, Philippe Hategekimana, who became a French citizen under the name Philippe Manier, was found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity in Rwanda and was given a life sentence. On Tuesday, his attorneys informed us that he would be appealing the decision.
“Philippe Manier is convinced that the trial will, after a fair process, establish his innocence,” stated Mes Emmanuel Altit and Alexis Guedj, his attorneys, in a news release.
Alain Gauthier, president of the Committee of Civil Parties for Rwanda (CPCR), responded when approached by AFP, “It’s frankly unbearable, it’s hopeless.” He recalled that of the five suspected Rwandan genocidaires’ trials that were held in France, “three calls are currently in progress,” and that “we would have to justify these calls.” The results of only two convictions are conclusive.
He was suspected of taking part in or encouraging the murder of several Tutsis in April 1994 in the Butare prefecture (southern Rwanda), including the burgomaster of Ntyazo who resisted the genocide’s implementation in his commune. He was known by the nickname “Biguma” at the time.
He had specifically directed the construction of multiple “barriers,” or roadblocks, “intended to control and assassinate Tutsi civilians,” according to the prosecution.
The prosecution also charged Mr. Manier with being directly involved in three massacres: the massacre on Nyabubare Hill, where 300 people were killed on April 23, 1994; the massacre on the Nyamure Hill, where thousands of Tutsis had sought refuge; and the massacre at the Institute.
“I really feel the pain the victims are going through. There is actual evidence of the Tutsi genocide. I was there to see it. However, I have nothing to be ashamed of, the audience said. during one of his uncommon interventions, a former gendarme.
His defense, which had asked for an acquittal, desired that the accusation be seen as having been “built on sand” in favor of the accused.
His attorneys had contested the prosecution’s use of inmates’ videoconference evidence from their Kigali jail, which was the most devastating for the accused.
