The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) today confirmed François Karera’s sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of his life.

On 7 December 2007, Trial Chamber I found Karera guilty of genocide and extermination and murder as crimes against humanity, for his participation in the killing of Tutsis in Nyamirambo sector (Kigali-Ville prefecture), at Ntarama Church, and in Rushashi commune (Kigali prefecture). The Appeals Chamber composed of Judges Fausto Pocar, presiding, Mohamed Shahabuddeen, Mehmet Güney, Liu Daqun, and Theodor Meron allowed Karera’s appeal in part.

The Appeals Chamber reversed Karera’s conviction for aiding and abetting genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity, based on the alleged weapons distribution in Rushashi commune; for ordering genocide and extermination and murder as crimes against humanity, based on the alleged murders of Joseph Kahabaye, Jean Bosco Ndingutse, and Palatin Nyagatare; for ordering genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity, based on the killing of Murekezi; and for instigating murder as a crime against humanity, based on the murder of Gakuru. It dismissed the appeal in all other respects.

The Appeals Chamber affirmed Karera’s convictions for instigating and committing genocide, and for extermination and murder as crimes against humanity, based on the attack against, and killings of, Tutsi refugees at Ntarama Church on 15 April 1994; for ordering murder as a crime against humanity based on the killing of Murekezi; for aiding and abetting murder as a crime against humanity based on the killing of Gakuru; and for instigating genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity, based on his alleged conduct at meetings held in Rushashi commune between April and June 1994.

Karera is to remain in the UN Detention Facility in Arusha, Tanzania, pending his transfer to the country in which he will serve his sentence.