Japanese elected lead judge in Kenya chaos cases
Japanese judge Kuniko Ozaki was elected presiding judge of Trial Chamber V that will hear the cases of four Kenyans accused of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court April 26, 2012.
A Japanese judge will preside over the trial of four Kenyans accused of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.
The Trial Chamber V on Thursday elected Judge Kuniko Ozaki to lead it in setting the stage for the start of the trial proceedings.
The other judges handling the Kenyan cases are Judge Christine Van den Wyngaert from Belgium and Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji from Nigeria. Japan is a key financier of the ICC and Judge Ozaki’s role in the Kenyan case will be significant over the coming months.
On March 29, the ICC Presidency constituted Trial Chamber V and referred to it the cases against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, former head of civil service Francis Muthaura, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua Sang.
The Trial Chamber V will determine the innocence or guilt of the four though it will start by dealing with procedural issues such as challenges on jurisdiction or admissibility. The judges are now expected to hold a status conference in order to set the date of the trial.
The Trial Chamber, on its own motion, or at the request of the Prosecutor or the defence, may postpone the date of the trial.
On Wednesday, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Muthaura asked the judges to delay proceedings against them until their appeals are heard and determined.
