A lawyer for Deputy President William Samoei Ruto asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to suspend the prosecution’s questioning of Witness 743 until they investigate his claims that all witnesses whose statements were relied on to confirm the charges against Ruto had given false evidence.
Trial Chamber V(a) declined the application on Wednesday, adding the defense can revisit the application when it is their turn to question the witness. An investigator’s report the prosecution disclosed to the defense on Tuesday evening, after the day’s hearing had ended, prompted the application by Ruto’s lawyer, Shyamala Alagendra.
She told the chamber that the investigator’s report detailed a conversation a prosecution investigator had with Witness 743 in 2013 during which he made the allegation about the witnesses upon whose statements the charges against Ruto were confirmed. Joseph Kipchumba Kigen-Katwa, the lead lawyer for former journalist Joshua arap Sang, said he supported Alagendra’s application.
In a majority decision, Pre-Trial Chamber II confirmed the charges against Ruto and Sang in January 2012. They each face three counts of crimes against humanity for their alleged roles in the violence that nearly tore apart Kenya after the December 2007 presidential poll.
Senior trial lawyer Anton Steynberg said the prosecution opposed the application and cross-examination of Witness 743 would show him to be “a thoroughly unreliable and incredible” witness. Steynberg also said the witness never said he knew that the confirmation witnesses had given false evidence. Steynberg explained that the witness told the investigator in 2013 that he had information on witness interference but did not give any information to the investigator at the time of the interview.
“Mr. Steynberg, you said this witness is quote a thoroughly unreliable and incredible witness end quote. This is a witness you called to testify. Beyond the merits of the application of Ms. Alagendra you will of course tell us why we should continue to listen to this witness if this is how you feel,” said Presiding Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji.
Steynberg responded that the witness had made allegations that go to the heart of the integrity of the prosecution’s case.
“In that regard it’s necessary for this witness to come and testify in order to establish whether or not the version he gave us originally is the truth or whether his subsequent recantation and allegations against the prosecution is the truth. Or ultimately whether neither of these versions is to be believed because the witness has been too discredited,” said Steynberg.
It is after this that Judge Eboe-Osuji issued the chamber’s decision on the matter.
The rest of the day’s hearing was conducted in private session, except for when Steynberg applied to be admitted into evidence three statements Witness 743 gave to the prosecution and transcripts of recordings of his interviews with prosecution investigators. The chamber ordered the documents be admitted into evidence only for purposes of impeaching the witness and not for their truth.
Witness 743 will continue testifying on Thursday.
Actually,this are God fearing people who do not want to crucify innocent blood,Herroes of the day.
Actually If The Prosecutor Himself Is Doughting His Witness Then What Will The Other Party Say. It Is The Right Time The Court Should Take A Bold Step Of Terminating This Case To Save The Resources For Other Prosective Cases . For The I N T E R E S T Of Justice The Judges Should Order The Questioning Of The Investigators Mentioned By This Witness To Have Doctored The False Statements To Proof Who Is Telling The Trueth .
And we are yet to get more.Jesus said”forgive them father for they know not what they are doing”.this is why this case should be terminated and the witnesses to be forgiven and allow this country to moves on.NGOwho participated in this fiasco should be thoroughly ashamed.
If prosecution is mad then lets see the judges if they believe in their MINDS.
Firstly, defense ask the court to stay the proceedings given that prosecution had produced a report to the effect that the witness and others admitted lying in their statements that were used to confirm the charges against the accused. The honourable court declines to grant the request on very strange grounds. Secondly, the prosecution describes its witness as unreliable and discredible but the judges allows him to continue testifying. Is it a foregone conclusion the accused must be nailed at whatever cost ?.
John Nero, Read the statement of the Judge, once more, the court does not intend to nail anyone, at whatever cost! The chamber stated that, the testimony and the evidence shall be entered, for the purpose of; ” impeaching the witness ! ”
What Kenyans do not know is that, the courts abroad are not like the Kenyan ones where people can lie, here, giving false testimony to mislead the court, has consequences that are not for jokes!
People lie, then think that they can still stay here ?
The D.P. Is a free man, thanks for the lies of the witnesses !
I think the prosecution should drop the case en resign for lack of credibility
when a witness is declared hostile which side benefit, is it prosecution or defense team?
Let this Hon. prosecutor called Bensouda surrender and call it a day. for the more she continues to persist and embroiled herself in this weak case with ‘unreliable’ and ‘unincredible’ witnesses; the more she will lose reputation and the job.