Witness 789 testified entirely in private session on Thursday at the International Criminal Court (ICC) trial of Deputy President William Samoei Ruto and former journalist Joshua arap Sang.

Before Witness 789 began his testimony, Presiding Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said the prosecution and defense need to finish questioning the witness by the end of Friday because the chamber wanted to start with another witness on Monday. Judge Eboe-Osuji said there were particular circumstances that necessitated the next witness begin testifying on Monday though he did not elaborate in open court what those circumstances were.

The judge gave trial lawyer Alice Zago 30 minutes to wind-up her examination-in-chief of Witness 789. He said after that Sang’s lawyer, Philemon Koech, would cross-examine the witness. Koech said he would need up to Friday lunchtime to do so. David Hooper, Ruto’s lawyer, said he would cross-examine the witness after Koech and would finish within the time left.

Ruto and Sang each face three counts of crimes against humanity for their alleged roles in the violence that erupted after the December 2007 presidential poll.

Witness 789 will continue testifying on Friday.