They were handed the sentence on 6th July 2018 following two months of appeal in the Paris Court d’Assises. They later filed a complaint to the Court of Cessation which held the verdict on 16th October 2019.
Octavian Ngenzi and Tito Barahira were successive Mayors (Bourgmestres) of the former Kabarondo Commune, now in the current Kayonza District between 1977-1994.
The Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda (CPCR), a rights group that works to bring Genocide suspects living in France to book has welcomed the decision.
The Chairperson of CPCR, Alain Gauthier said: “The duo is additional to Pascal Simbikangwa convicted of genocide crimes in 2016 making it only three genocidaires handed life sentence in France in 25 years. It is unfortunate.”
Tito and Ngenzi were convicted for taking part in the killings of Tutsi who fled to former Kabarondo commune offices.
Octavien Ngenzi, 61, and Tito Barahira, 68, were handed life sentences in 2016 and upheld during the appeal hearing in 2018.
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