The Advocates-General, in charge of the prosecution had requested for 30 years for the 65-year-old former doctor, born on June 6, 1959, and a few hours ago he has received a sentence just 3 years less.
The day of the verdict was also the day of the final hearing. Dr. Rwamucyo was given the opportunity to make a final statement, in which he stated that he did not kill anyone and did not directly cause the death of anyone.
He claimed that he knew the locations of all the mass graves where bodies were buried but denied knowledge of other details, adding that he had nothing to offer to those who lost loved ones. Rwamucyo concluded by thanking the court for listening to him.
The presiding judge instructed Rwamucyo to remain at the court building while his deliberated on the verdict. He was asked to stay in a designated room under police watch until both parties were summoned again for the announcement.
After the verdict was read, the police immediately took Dr. Eugène Rwamucyo to the prison where he will serve his sentence.
Rwamucyo’s case, who once headed the medical department at the former National University of Rwanda in Butare (UNR), began on October 1, 2024.
He was accused of several crimes, including committing genocide, complicity in genocide, involvement in a genocide plot, crimes against humanity, and aiding and abetting genocide.
These charges are linked to evidence and testimonies collected in the former Butare Prefecture, where Dr. Rwamucyo worked before and during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Various witnesses testified in court that Dr. Rwamucyo gave orders to bury bodies of Tutsis, including some who were still alive and injured, using equipment such as road construction machinery commonly referred to as caterpillars
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