French court jails ex-Rwandan soldier Simbikangwa for 25 years over genocide
- 10 years ago
Former Rwandan soldier Pascal Simbikangwa has been jailed for 25 years over the country’s genocide, in a landmark verdict in Paris.
Under French law, Rwandans suspected of involvement in the wave of killings in 1994 can be tried in a French court. This conviction was a first for France.
Simbikangwa was found guilty of genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity. Paraplegic after a car crash, he had denied the charges.
In a period of around 100 days, some 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.
France was long considered a safe haven for those fleeing prosecution over Rwanda but a special genocide unit has been set up in Paris and other cases are being investigated.
Under French law, Rwandans suspected of involvement in the wave of killings in 1994 can be tried in a French court. This conviction was a first for France.
Simbikangwa was found guilty of genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity. Paraplegic after a car crash, he had denied the charges.
In a period of around 100 days, some 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.
France was long considered a safe haven for those fleeing prosecution over Rwanda but a special genocide unit has been set up in Paris and other cases are being investigated.