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Désiré Munyaneza

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Désiré Munyaneza
BornDecember 1966 (age 57–58)
Rwanda
Criminal statusIncarcerated
Conviction(s)Genocide (2 counts)
Crimes against humanity (2 counts)
War crimes (3 counts)
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 25 years

Désiré Munyaneza (born 1966) is a Rwandan businessman and convicted war criminal who was living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, before being imprisoned. He is the first man to be arrested and convicted in Canada on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, for his role in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.[1] He was sent to jail in October 2009.

Arrest

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On October 19, 2005, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced it had detained Munyaneza under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act with charges for two counts of genocide, two counts of crimes against humanity and three counts of war crimes.

Munyaneza was the first person to be arrested under that law, which was passed to give formal recognition to Canada's obligations to the International Criminal Court.

Munyaneza committed the acts near Butare, Rwanda in 1994.[2][3]

Trial

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Munyaneza's trial began in March 2007 with the testimony of a woman, identified only as witness C-15, who stated that she had pretended to be dead for three days and smeared her sister's blood on her body to hide from Interahamwe gangs. [4][5]

On April 10, a witness known as C-17 testified that Munyaneza had raped her four times, and that she had witnessed him personally raping and killing others.[6]

On April 11, Munyaneza was severely beaten in his cell at the Rivières-des-Prairies prison by a 17-year-old who had heard about the details of Munyaneza's trial in the media.[7]

On May 22, 2009, Munyaneza, 42 years old, was convicted on seven counts related to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The offences fall under Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, which allows residents to be tried for crimes committed abroad. Munyaneza is the first person to be convicted under the Canadian law.[8][9][10] The trial, held in Montreal with the court also travelling to Rwanda, saw sixty-six people testify in court.[8] Many had their identities hidden.[8]

Sentence

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On October 29, 2009, Munyaneza was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.[11][12] Canadian law stated that Munyaneza's criminal activities were the "worst in existence".[9] The judge referred to the sentence as "severe".[9] It is anticipated that Munyaneza will appeal the sentence.[9][13] Munyaneza's lawyer thought he should be imprisoned for just twenty years.[8] Emmanuel Muhawenimena, who said he lost 70 family members in the genocide, said "So many Rwandans in Montreal, across Canada, all over the world, they are happy today."[8]

References

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  1. ^ Austen, Ian (May 22, 2009). "Canadian Judge Convicts Rwandan in Genocide". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
  2. ^ "Toronto man charged with Rwandan war crimes". CBC News. October 19, 2005. Retrieved February 22, 2007.
  3. ^ "No bail for man accused of Rwandan war crimes". CBC News. April 27, 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2007.
  4. ^ "Woman pretended to be dead for 3 days, war crimes trial hears". CBC News. March 26, 2007. Retrieved March 26, 2007.
  5. ^ Ha, Tu Thanh (April 3, 2007). "Horrors of Rwanda slaughter retold at Montreal war-crimes trial". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 3, 2007.
  6. ^ Peritz, Ingrid (April 10, 2007). "First rape victim testifies at war crimes trial". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
  7. ^ "Teen inmate charged in Rwandan's prison beating". CBC News. April 27, 2007. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Canada jails Rwandan over genocide". Al Jazeera. October 30, 2009. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
  9. ^ a b c d "Canada jails Rwandan war criminal". BBC. October 29, 2009. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
  10. ^ "Quebec court convicts Munyaneza of war crimes in Rwanda". CBC News. May 22, 2009.
  11. ^ BBC NEWS | Americas | Canada jails Rwandan war criminal
  12. ^ CTV News | Munyaneza handed life sentence for war crimes[dead link‍]
  13. ^ "Canada court gives Rwandan life term for war crimes". Reuters Africa. October 29, 2009. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
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