Nkinamubanzi et al. fr

Country of proceedings: Rwanda
Context of crimes: Rwanda
Date: 1998 - 2000
Keywords: Genocide (committing), crimes against humantity (murder)

Court Documents
17-04-1998 - Tribunal de Première Instance de Kibuye (in French)
25-10-2000 - Cour d'appel de Ruhengeri

Other documents
G. Venturini. (2007) "Rwanda's Unanswered Screams: Still seeking justice after the Seromba trial"
M. Drumbl. Atrocity, Punishment and International Law, Chapter 1 (2005)
Hirondelle News Agency - "Father Seromba Defended by the man who Demolished his Church" (29-03-06)

Presentation of the case
The case concerns six accused charged with crimes related to the Nyange Parish massacre. During this massacre, two thousand Tutsis who had fled from their homes and sought refuge in the church were slaughtered by Hutu extremists, including the parish priests. On 16 April 1994, the church was razed to the ground by a bulldozer operated by one of the accused, Anastase Nkinamubanzi, who had allegedly been paid by the church priests to do so. Those who did not die were then attacked by Hutu extremists with machetes.

In its decision of 18 April 1998, the Tribunal at Kibuye found Nkinamubanzi guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Nkinamubanzi had pleaded guilty, but the Tribunal did not accept his guilty plea, the details of which it found inexact. Two of the accused in the case, father Jean Francois Kayiranga and father Edouard Nkurikiye , were sentenced to death whilst another of the accused was acquitted.

On appeal, the Court of Appeal of Ruhengeri overturned the conviction of Nkinamubanzi, but confirmed the convictions and sentences of the two accused priests. Nkinamubanzi nevertheless remains in custody.

Before their cases were severed, father Athanase Seromba and Fulgence Kayishema were also accused in the case. On 13 December 2006, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) sentenced Seromba to 15 years’ imprisonment for his role in the massacre. On appeal, Seromba’s sentence was increased to life imprisonment after he was found also to be guilty of committing genocide. Fulgence Kayishema remains wanted by the ICTR.

During the trial of Seromba, Anastase Nkinamubanzi testified for the Defence., despite having originally stated on several occasions that he had been paid by the priests to bulldoze the church. Nkinamubanzi has been accused of taking payments to change his testimony.

Related cases
Athanase Seromba (ICTR)
Fulgence Kayishema (ICTR)

Other cases before Rwandan Courts
Other cases related to Rwanda