Epstein’s cellmate stated that he discovered the note in a book after the financier’s failed suicide attempt, several weeks before his eventual death in August 2019.
“They investigated me for month — Found NOTHING!!!” the note reads. “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye.”
“Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!! No fun — NOT WORTH IT!!” it continues.
The handwritten letter, undated and unsigned, has not yet been authenticated and was not included in the millions of pages of Epstein-related documents released earlier this year by the U.S. Justice Department.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas ordered the note’s release following a request by The New York Times, which reported its existence last week and argued that there was no basis for keeping the document sealed.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a state charge of soliciting a minor for prostitution. He was arrested again in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and was found dead in his jail cell the following month.
Although federal authorities ruled his death a suicide, questions about the official account have persisted for years.
A document that was included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, photographed Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, shows a photo of Epstein on a inmate report from the Federal Bureau of Prisons . (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
The decision, issued on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, overturns a previous ruling by investigative judges on August 21, 2025, which had ordered the closure of the case due to what they described as insufficient evidence linking Kanziga to the crimes.
Richard Gisagara, a lawyer representing civil parties in genocide-related cases in France, welcomed the ruling, describing it as “good news” and asserting that Kanziga would ultimately face justice. Writing on X, he stated: “She will not escape justice.”
France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT), which has jurisdiction over genocide and crimes against humanity, had challenged the earlier decision, arguing that key evidence and witness testimonies had been overlooked. It called for further investigative steps to be undertaken.
The case dates back to 2008, when civil party organisations filed a complaint in France seeking an investigation into Kanziga, now aged 83, for alleged involvement in genocide and crimes against humanity.
In February 2022, judges had initially ordered the case closed, citing a lack of substantive evidence. That conclusion was reaffirmed in the August 2025 decision, before being overturned on appeal.
Kanziga was evacuated from Rwanda on April 9, 1994, under orders from then French President François Mitterrand. As a result, earlier investigations focused primarily on the first three days of the genocide.
In September 2024, PNAT criticised the scope of the inquiry, noting that it had been limited in duration, narrow in focus, and based on a relatively small number of witness accounts.
Prosecutors have since called for the investigation to be expanded to cover the period from March 1 to April 9, 1994, and have also raised allegations regarding Kanziga’s potential involvement in the planning of the genocide.
Following the 2025 decision to halt the investigation, civil party organisations expressed concern over the judges’ reasoning. They argued that it was inconsistent to conclude that Kanziga was not part of the so-called “Akazu”, an inner circle of family members and close associates of Habyarimana widely alleged to have played a key role in orchestrating the Genocide against the Tutsi, despite evidence suggesting her inclusion.
The organisations also criticised the reliance on testimony from controversial figures, including Gaspard Musabyimana, who was treated as an expert witness despite his known association with RTLM, a media outlet that broadcast hate propaganda during the genocide.
Musabyimana has also been described as having supported genocide denial and the Habyarimana government, including through a publishing house he established in Belgium.
The Paris Court of Appeal has ruled that investigations must continue into the alleged role of Agathe Kanziga, the widow of Juvénal Habyarimana, in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and its preparation.
The court ordered his immediate release following the pronouncement of the judgment.
DJ Toxxyk was facing charges including involuntary manslaughter, drug-related offenses, fleeing the scene after causing or being involved in an accident, and refusing to undergo an alcohol test.
The charges stem from a road accident that occurred in the early hours of December 20, 2025, which claimed the life of a police officer. Investigations following the incident also uncovered narcotic substances at the DJ’s residence.
Under Article 111 of Rwanda’s penal code, involuntary manslaughter occurs when a person causes death through negligence, recklessness, or failure to observe regulations, without intent to kill. The offense carries a penalty of six months to two years in prison and a fine ranging from Rwf 500,000 to Rwf 2,000,000, or one of these penalties.
Regarding drug use, Article 263 provides that any person who consumes or is found in possession of narcotic drugs or similar substances commits an offense punishable by one to two years’ imprisonment or community service.
On the charge of fleeing the scene, Article 5 of the 1987 road traffic law stipulates that any person who leaves the scene of an accident to avoid identification commits an offense, punishable by three months to one year in prison and a fine of between Rwf 10,000 and Rwf 30,000. The court applied this law as it was in force at the time of the offense.
After reviewing submissions from both the prosecution and the defense, the court found DJ Toxxyk guilty on all counts. However, the court suspended the three-month community service sentence for six months, meaning it will only be enforced if he fails to comply with the conditions set during the suspension period.
The court ordered his immediate release, effectively accounting for the time DJ Toxxyk had already spent in pre-trial detention. He was arrested on December 21, 2025, and had been held at the Nyarugenge Correctional Facility since February 9, 2026.
The Nyarugenge Primary Court found Arnaud Shema De Bosscher, DJ Toxxyk, guilty on all four charges related to a fatal road accident and drug-related offences. The court sentenced him to a fine of Rwf 1,050,000 and three months of community service, which has been suspended for six months.The court also ordered his immediate release following the pronouncement of the judgment.
Lt Gen Yav previously commanded the DRC’s third defence zone. He was arrested in September 2022 after M23 rebels captured large parts of North Kivu Province.
The prosecution, represented by Lt Gen Lucien-René Likulia, alleged that Yav had been in contact with an official from the Rwandan government, claiming that messages found on his phone served as evidence of their collaboration.
However, testimony presented in court revealed inconsistencies. Among the witnesses were Lt Gen Constant Ndima, former governor of North Kivu, and Maj Gen Sylvain Ekenge Bomusa, former spokesperson of the Congolese army—but their accounts contradicted each other.
Lt Gen Ndima told the High Military Court that Yav had received a message from retired General James Kabarebe, a senior figure who previously held key roles in Rwanda’s military. When asked whether he had personally seen the message, Ndima admitted that he had not.
In a surprising turn, Maj Gen Ekenge, who also served in North Kivu, stated instead that the message had come from an aide to Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe—not from Kabarebe himself.
The prosecution was further questioned on whether it could present the alleged messages from Yav’s phone, which has been in custody for four years. It responded that accessing the device had been difficult due to multiple security passwords set by the officer.
When pressed to identify anyone who had actually seen the messages, the prosecution cited Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, a former North Kivu governor. However, it acknowledged that he could not testify, as he died in January 2025. With the evidence still unverified, the court turned to experts from the national cyber security agency (CNC) to attempt to access the phone and retrieve the alleged messages.
Yav’s lawyer, Charles Ngwapitshi, argued that the inclusion of Gen (Rtd) Kabarebe in the case was intended to exaggerate its significance, given his prominence in Rwanda’s security establishment.
“After what was said by Gen Ndima, it is clear there is a problem from the outset,” Ngwapitshi told the court. “To strengthen their case against Gen Yav Irung Philémon, they had to inflate it by introducing the name of James Kabarebe. I want to understand why there are so many contradictions.”
Although the CNC had been expected to submit its findings after being granted additional time, it informed the court on April 21 that it had not retrieved the alleged messages and requested an open-ended extension.
Ngwapitshi maintained that the prosecution’s case lacked merit, urging the court to reach a swift decision so that his client—who has spent four years in detention—can reunite with his family.
Presiding judge Lt Gen Joseph Mutombo Katalayi ruled that the court could not grant an indefinite extension without a clear deadline. He ordered the CNC to return Yav’s phone, effectively halting the forensic examination.
The decision marked a significant blow to the prosecution. Ngwapitshi reiterated that the case was baseless, describing it as “an empty shell.”
The court set May 5, 2026, as the date when both the prosecution and the defense will present their final submissions, which will inform the final judgment.
Lt Gen Yav previously commanded the DRC’s third defence zone.
The substantive hearing of the case was held on Monday, April 20, 2026, after proceedings had earlier been adjourned to allow the accused’s lawyers to be physically present with him at Mageragere Prison, where he is being held.
DJ Toxxyk is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, engaging in activities related to narcotic drugs or substances treated as such, and fleeing after causing or being involved in an accident.
The charges stem from a road accident that occurred in the early hours of December 20, 2025, in which a traffic police officer died. Investigators also reportedly recovered illegal drugs from his residence during the subsequent investigation.
Prosecutors asked the court to find him guilty on all counts and impose the maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter, which under Rwandan law carries a prison term of between six months and two years, along with a fine ranging from Rwf 500,000 to Rwf 2 million.
Drug-related offences carry a prison sentence of between one and two years or community service, while fleeing after causing or being involved in an accident is punishable by between three months and one year in prison, depending on the circumstances.
During the hearing, DJ Toxxyk admitted to charges of involuntary manslaughter and fleeing after causing or being involved in an accident, but denied the drug-related allegations.
He also told the court that he had apologised to the family of the deceased police officer and that they had forgiven him.
The court is expected to deliver its verdict on May 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
The Prosecution wants the Nyarugenge Primary Court to convict Shema Arnaud De Bosscher, popularly known as DJ Toxxyk, on charges including involuntary manslaughter and sentence him to two years in prison, along with a fine of Rwf 1 million.
The final decision will be made by the United Nations Security Council. The Mechanism was tasked with handling residual cases from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, including tracking fugitives and overseeing ongoing legal matters.
Among the most prominent recent cases handled by the IRMCT are those of Félicien Kabuga and Fulgence Kayishema. Kabuga, arrested in 2020, was deemed unfit to stand trial due to severe health and cognitive issues.
Once considered a key financier of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, he remains detained in The Hague, as medical experts ruled he cannot travel. No country has agreed to host him except Rwanda.
Kayishema, arrested in 2023 in South Africa, continues to resist extradition to Rwanda, despite a 2012 ICTR ruling determined that his case should be transferred to Rwanda’s High Court.
If no legal obstacles arise, he is expected to be transferred via Arusha before facing trial in Rwanda, as national courts cannot overturn decisions made by international tribunals.
In June 2026, the UN Security Council will also decide whether to renew the mandates of IRMCT Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and Registrar Abubacarr Tambadou, or to formally wind down the institution’s operations. According to Tambadou, this meeting will determine whether the Mechanism continues operating in Arusha or begins its closure process.
If the IRMCT ceases operations, remaining cases will likely be handled by national jurisdictions. Countries such as France, Belgium, and others in Europe have already taken steps to prosecute genocide suspects or extradite them to Rwanda.
Since the establishment of the ICTR in 1995, 92 individuals were indicted for their role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Of these, 62 were convicted, 10 were transferred to Rwanda for trial, and three cases were left to the IRMCT in 2010. Ten individuals were acquitted.
Beyond trials, the IRMCT also oversees enforcement of sentences and management of archives. Its closure raises concerns about genocide convicts currently imprisoned in countries like Senegal and Benin, as their future custody arrangements remain unclear once UN oversight ends.
Reports indicate that the UN has been funding their detention, particularly in Africa.
Discussions are ongoing about whether host countries will assume responsibility for these prisoners or transfer them to Rwanda. The country has indicated readiness to receive them, given the capacity to host them at modern prison facilities such as Mpanga Prison in Nyanza.
Meanwhile, Rwanda continues to pursue justice for genocide suspects abroad. Over 1,100 arrest warrants have been issued to various countries, with more than 500 suspects believed to be in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
However, cooperation, especially from African nations, has been limited.
On April 11, 2026, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, criticized the lack of action from African countries during a commemoration event in Kicukiro.
He emphasized that while European countries are often blamed, many African states have not taken sufficient steps to prosecute or extradite suspects.
France alone is currently handling around 40 pending genocide-related cases, while the United Kingdom is reported to host five suspects but has neither prosecuted nor extradited them.
As the IRMCT approaches its possible closure, the question remains: will justice for the remaining genocide cases be fully realized, or will responsibility shift unevenly across national jurisdictions?
IRMCT Prosecutor Serge Brammertz whose mandate comes to an end in June 2026 requested the extradition of Rwandans from Niger to their home country. Kayishema, arrested in 2023 in South Africa, continues to resist extradition to Rwanda, despite a 2012 ICTR ruling determined that his case should be transferred to Rwanda’s High Court.
Ingabire had argued that Article 106, which allows a court to summon individuals as accomplices or accessories during criminal proceedings, violated the presumption of innocence guaranteed by the Constitution. She contended that the provision contributed to her imprisonment and should be annulled.
In its ruling, the Court addressed three key issues, focusing on whether Article 106 infringes on constitutional rights. The Court emphasized that summoning an individual as an accomplice does not equate to a presumption of guilt.
The provision allows for the prosecution to summon individuals linked to the case for questioning, but it does not make them guilty unless there is sufficient evidence. If no such evidence is found, the court continues the trial without further involvement from the summoned individuals.
The Court also clarified that the prosecution must present irrefutable evidence to justify the summoning. It asserted that the judicial process ensures the defendant’s rights and guarantees that they are treated as innocent until proven guilty.
Regarding concerns of judicial overreach, the Court highlighted that the judiciary and prosecution may cooperate but must not interfere with each other’s roles.
The Supreme Court dismissed Ingabire’s claim, affirming that Article 106 aligns with the Constitution and does not violate any fundamental rights.
He made the remarks at the tribunal as hearings over an unimplemented asylum agreement between Rwanda and the United Kingdom began on Monday, March 18, 2026.
The three-day session runs March 18–20, with Rwanda represented by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Emmanuel Ugirashebuja.
Rwanda accuses the UK of abandoning the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP), formalized in 2024 after initial agreements in April 2022, without honouring its commitments, including a £100 million fund (ETIF) intended to support refugees and host communities.
Rwanda initiated arbitration following the UK’s decision under new Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July 2024 to abandon the “Rwanda scheme,” a move that Rwanda learned about through media reports.
Speaking before the tribunal, Dr. Ugirashebuja, highlighted Rwanda’s historical empathy for displacement.
“Many Rwandans have experienced what it means to be displaced. It is this collective experience which has shaped the Rwandan Government’s policies on migration and asylum,” he noted.
Rwanda currently hosts over 130,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) welcoming people from neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, as well as from Libya and Afghanistan.
Recent examples include receiving 164 asylum seekers from Libya last month and relocating the School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA) to Kigali in 2021 for Afghan girls barred from education under the Taliban regime.
In 2023, Rwanda welcomed over 200 Sudanese medical students displaced by civil war.
Dr. Ugirashebuja explained Rwanda’s progressive refugee philosophy, noting that ‘Rwanda firmly believes that refugees make social, cultural and economic contributions to the societies in which they integrate, if they are allowed to do so’.
He referenced the 2021 joint UNHCR-Rwanda strategy for economic inclusion, contrasting it with traditional “warehousing” of refugees.
The MEDP, he said, aligned with this approach by deterring dangerous irregular migration while promoting economic opportunities.
“Both Parties described their partnership as the Migration and Economic Development Partnership, or MEDP… It reflected Rwanda’s commitment to protecting vulnerable people and built on Rwanda’s track record of welcoming and hosting refugees from around the world.”
Rwanda implemented reforms swiftly, including constitutional changes, legislation, an appeals tribunal, and reception facilities. The agreement included the Economic Transformation and Integration Fund (ETIF), with binding commitments in a June 2024 exchange of notes for £50 million payments in April 2025 and 2026.
However, after the UK government changed, the new Prime Minister declared the scheme “dead and buried.”
According to Dr. Ugirashebuja, the UK did not formally notify Rwanda in advance, with termination notice caming in December 2025.
“The simple fact remains that the United Kingdom did not give notice to terminate the Treaty until December 2025. The termination took effect only on Monday.
“The MEDP was in force for just over two months under the previous British Government, and the Finance Note for just over two weeks. Both of these binding legal instruments have been in force for over 18 months under the British Government that won the elections in July 2024.”
Rwanda claims breaches of financial obligations and Article 19 resettlement provisions for vulnerable refugees.
Dr. Ugirashebuja explained that Rwanda ‘seeks a modest sum in compensation, less than 10% of the UNHCR’s budget for Rwanda for one year alone, or alternatively an apology for the United Kingdom’s blatant disregard of this obligation’.
“The United Kingdom may well have wished Rwanda to forgo significant sums of money… Rwanda ultimately chose not to provide its consent,” Dr. Ugirashebuja said, noting Rwanda’s clear refusal in diplomatic notes.
He concluded by expressing regret over the need for arbitration but confidence in the tribunal; “Rwanda has enormous faith in this Tribunal to reach the right legal result. Whatever the outcome, Rwanda remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country.”
The Peace Palace is an international law administrative building in The Hague, the Netherlands that is often called “the seat of international law” because it houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration and International Court of Justice. Photo by Stephanie YeowThe Migration and Economic Development Partnership between Rwanda and UK had been signed in April 2022, before unilateral cancellation.
The ICC said the hearing will last four days. During Monday’s session, the Prosecution, the Defence, and the Legal Representatives of Victims delivered oral submissions, outlining their arguments on whether the case should proceed to trial.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity. The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that he committed the crimes charged. If one or more charges are confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber for the next phase of proceedings. The court is expected to issue its decision within 60 days after the conclusion of the hearing.
The 80-year-old Duterte did not attend the hearing in The Hague. Although the judges found him fit to participate in the proceedings, they separately granted a defence request to excuse his personal attendance at the hearing.
Earlier, his legal team had requested an indefinite adjournment of proceedings, including the confirmation hearing, arguing that he was unfit to participate. In response, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I appointed three independent medical experts to examine his condition and received their reports on Dec. 5, 2025. On Jan. 26, 2026, the Chamber concluded that, based on the medical assessments, Duterte “is able to exercise his procedural rights and is therefore fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings.”
Duterte served as president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He was arrested and transferred to ICC custody in March 2025 under a warrant linked to his controversial anti-drug campaign, a move he has challenged. His initial appearance before ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I took place on March 14, 2025, and on Nov. 28, 2025, the court rejected an appeal seeking his release on grounds of age and declining health.
Cameramen work outside of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Feb. 23, 2026.
Prince Kid, the former organizer of the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant, was convicted in Rwandan courts of rape and soliciting or engaging in sexual acts in exchange for favors related to contestants in the competition he ran.
In October 2023, the High Court sentenced him to five years in prison. Neither he nor his legal team appeared for the ruling, while the prosecution was present. It was later established that Prince Kid had fled justice.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Prince Kid in Fort Worth, Texas on March 3, 2025.
Authorities said he had been living in Fort Worth unlawfully for some time. This immigration-related offense is the basis of the case he currently faces in the U.S.
Speaking on Monday during the launch of the judiciary’s anti-corruption week, Prosecutor General Habyarimana said Rwanda is working closely with U.S. judicial authorities to ensure that Prince Kid answers for his crimes.
“The case concerning Ishimwe Dieudonné, known as Prince Kid, has been concluded with a final conviction, meaning there are no further avenues of appeal. It has now been established that he is in the United States, where he is also facing other charges under that country’s jurisdiction.
“As is standard practice when a person has been definitively convicted and their location is known, the required procedures were undertaken, including the preparation of an arrest warrant submitted to the competent authorities in that country. Cooperation is ongoing, and we are following the matter in accordance with the law,” she said.
She added that Prince Kid could be extradited to Rwanda after responding to the charges he faces in the United States.
“We informed them of the judgment against him, detailed the charges, provided his full identification, and formally requested that he be returned to Rwanda. When a person is facing proceedings in another country, extradition can sometimes take time. We submitted the relevant documents and case files in October 2024, but he must first answer to the proceedings where he is currently located. In due course, we expect to receive him as requested.”
The charges against Prince Kid stem from alleged sexual abuse of contestants who participated in the Miss Rwanda pageant, which he organized for years through his company, Rwanda Inspiration Backup.
