Ntezimana et al. fr

Country of proceedings: Belgium
Context of crimes: Rwanda
Date: 2001
Keywords: War crimes, jurisdiction (universal)

The trial of the “Butare Four”, which started in 2001, is the first case to apply the 1993 law against war crimes which inserted the principle of Universal Jurisdiction in Belgian law (a law which was considerably modified in 2003).

The Accused were charged with the international crime of taking part, either directly or indirectly, in the murder of a certain number of Tutsi during the Rwanda genocide of 1994 . They were tried before a jury, according to the Belgium judicial system.

Vincent Ntezimana was President of the Association of Academic Personnel at the University of Butare. Consolata Mukangango and Julienne Mukabutera are two Benedictine nuns (Sister Gertrude and Sister Maria Kisito) accused of having participated in the killing of Tutsi who sought refuge in their convent. Alphonse Higaniro was the Managing Director of the Sorwal matchstick factory. He was known as a Hutu extremist and a member of the Akasu movement which prepared the genocide.

On 8 June 2001, the Accused were found guilty and sentenced to 12 years' (Vincent Ntezimana), 20 years' (Alphonse Higaniro), 15 years' (Consolata Mukangango) and 12 years' (Julienne Mukabutera) imprisonment.

Court documents (in French)
08-06-2001 - Verdict
18-04-2001 - Arret en réponse aux exceptions de la défense d'Alphonse Higaniro
18-04-2001 - Arret en réponse aux exceptions de la défense de Consolata Mukangango et de Julienne Mukabutera

Additional documents (in French)
17-04-2001 - Acte de défense de Vincent Ntezimana
17-04-2001 - Acte de défense d'Alphonse Higaniro
17-04-2001 - Acte de défense de Consolata Mukangango et Julienne Mukabutera