Bensouda okay with staggered Ruto trial

{{The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on Monday said she is not opposed to staggering the trial against Deputy President William Ruto and former presenter Joshua arap Sang.}}

However she is in favour of Sang’s request of three weeks breaks as opposed to two weeks suggested by Ruto’s lawyer Karim Khan.

“The Prosecution does not object in principle to Ruto’s defence request, provided that the organisation of the court schedule is sufficiently flexible so as to allow for witnesses to finish their testimonies prior to any scheduled break.

However, the Prosecution considers that alternating three week periods of sessions and breaks, as suggested by Sang’s defence during the status conference held on 19 August 2013, is a more practical proposition,” she said in her response to the application by the defence.

She further said the breaks should not come before witnesses on the stand complete their testimony.

Last Wednesday Ruto’s Khan made an application requesting the Trial Chamber to stagger Ruto’s trial by two weeks to allow him to attend to his state duties.

This was after the Appeal’s Chamber ordered for Ruto’s continuous physical presence until the full decision would be made.

The Trial Chamber allowed Ruto to skip sessions of his trial and the Prosecutor’s moved to the Appeal Chamber to have the decision reversed.

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