Judges Set Schedule and Requirements For Trial Completion « Thomas Lubanga Trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Judges Set Schedule and Requirements For Trial Completion « Thomas Lubanga Trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC): "Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is charged with committing war crimes by enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15 years and using them in hostilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between September 2002 and August 2003.

The trial, which began on January 26, 2009, has been plagued by delays and very nearly ended before it began when prosecutors refused to turn over potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense. After the trial got back on track, defense counsel charged prosecutors with abuse of process by allegedly presenting false witnesses who claimed they were coached by prosecution intermediaries. The judges interrupted the trial to hear testimony on the abuse of process charge.

After months of testimony, the judges ruled on March 2, 2011 that the case would not be thrown out due to alleged prosecutorial misconduct. They decided the evidence was not sufficient to render a fair trial impossible. A final decision on the abuse of process charge will be made after the close of the case when the judges consider all issues and deliver their final judgment.

The trial chamber scheduled oral arguments for August 25 and 26, 2011"