The Prosecution at the ICTR has rested its case in two major trials: the Military I trial, which involves four former high-ranking military officers in the Rwandan Army; and the “Butare” trial against six Accused from Butare prefecture in Rwanda .

The four Accused in the Military I trial are Colonel Théoneste Bagosora, a former Director of Cabinet in the Rwandan Ministry of Defence; General Gratien Kabiligi, the former head of military operations of the Rwandan Army; Lieutenant Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva, the former military commander of Gisenyi Prefecture in northwest Rwanda; and Major Aloys Ntabakuze, the former commander of the army’s para-commando battalion. The Accused are charged with genocide, crimes against humanity, and serious violations of the Geneva Conventions and their Second Additional Protocol. The trial opened on 2 April 2002 before Trial Chamber III. After the non-reelection of one Judge and the announced retirement of another, the case was transferred to Trial Chamber I, composed of Judges Erik Møse of Norway (presiding), Sergei Alekseevich Egorov of Russia , and Jai Ram Reddy of Fiji. The Chamber heard 80 witnesses over 168 trial days, amongst them expert witness Filip Reyntjens and Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire. The Prosecution closed its case on 14 October 2004 , subject to a motion for admission of additional evidence by written procedure. The Defence case is scheduled to commence on 12 January 2005 .

In the Butare trial, being heard by Trial Chamber II, the Prosecution closed its case on 18 October 2004 after the testimony of 55 witnesses. One additional Prosecution witness, a handwriting expert, will be called on 4 November 2004 . The trial opened on 12 June 2001 and adjourned on 26 March 2003 due to the non-reelection of one of the judges. The case resumed on 26 January 2004 before Judges William Hussein Sekule of Tanzania (presiding), Arlette Ramaroson of Madagascar, and Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda. The trial was conducted concurrently with two other cases before Trial Chamber II, Kajelijeli and Kamuhanda, in which judgments were rendered in December 2003 and January 2004, respectively. The Butare trial involves six Accused, the highest number in a trial before the Tribunal. They are Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, former Minister for Family and Women Affairs; her son, Arsène Shalom Ntahobali who is alleged to have been a militia leader; Sylvain Nsabimana and Colonel Alphonse Nteziryayo, two former prefects of Butare; and Elie Ndayambaje and Joseph Kanyabashi, two former mayors of Butare. The Accused are charged with genocide, crimes against humanity, and serious violations of the Geneva Conventions and their Second Additional Protocol. The presentation of the Defence case will commence on 31 January 2005 .