The Prosecutor v. Jean Paul Akayesu

Case Sheet · ICTR

The Prosecutor v. Jean Paul Akayesu

Case number ICTR-96-04
Case Name "Akayesu"
Status Closed · Sentenced 

Context

Jean Paul Akayesu served as bourgmestre of Taba commune from April 1993 until June 1994.

Pre-Trial

Initial Indictment 16 February 1996
Amended Indictment June 1997
Crimes Charged
Genocide
Genocide · art. 2(3)(a) ICTRS
Direct and public incitement to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(c) ICTRS
Complicity in genocide · art. 2(3)(e) ICTRS
Crimes against humanity
Crime against humanity of murder · art. 3(a) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 3(b) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of torture · art. 3(f) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 3(g) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 3(i) ICTRS
Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II
Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 4(a) ICTRS
Outrages upon persona1 dignity, in particular rape, degrading humiliating treatment and indecent assault · art. 4(e) ICTRS
Arrest and Transfer 10 October 1995 · Arrested in Zambia · Transferred to ICTR Detention Facility 26 May 1996
Initial Appearance 30 May 1996 · Plea: Not Guilty 

Trial

Trial Chamber Trial Chamber I · Judges: Judge Lai’ty Kama (Presiding), Judge Lennart Aspegren, Judge Navanethem Pilla
Trial Opening 9 January 1997
Trial Judgment 2 September 1998
Crimes at Trial Judgment
Genocide
Genocide · art. 2(3)(a) ICTRS
Direct and public incitement to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(c) ICTRS
Crimes against humanity
Crime against humanity of murder · art. 3(a) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 3(b) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of torture · art. 3(f) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 3(g) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 3(i) ICTRS
Sentencing Judgment 2 October 1998 · Life imprisonment

Appeal

Appeals Chamber Appeals Chamber · Judges: Claude Jorda (presiding), Lal Chand Vohrah, Mohamed Shahabuddeen, Rafael Nieto-Navia Fausto Pocar
Appeals Filed By Both
Appeal Judgment 1 June 2001
Crimes at Appeal Judgment
Genocide
Genocide · art. 2(3)(a) ICTRS
Direct and public incitement to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(c) ICTRS
Crimes against humanity
Crime against humanity of murder · art. 3(a) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 3(b) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of torture · art. 3(f) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 3(g) ICTRS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 3(i) ICTRS
Final Sentence Life imprisonment
Transfer to Serve Sentence 9 December 2001 · Mali
19 December 2020 · Benin

Key Documents

Amended Indictment Amended Indictment (1997)
Trial Judgment Trial Judgment (1998)
Sentencing Judgment Sentencing Judgment (1998)
Appeal Judgment Appeal Judgment (2001)
ICTR Case Page Official ICTR page