The trial of Alfred Musema, a former Director of Gisovu Tea Factory in Kibuye Prefecture, will begin on Monday 25 January 1999 before Trial Chamber 1, composed of Judges Lennart Aspegren (presiding), Laïty Kama and Navanethem Pillay.

This will be the first trial in which measures to speed up cases, adopted on 8 June 1998 by the 5th Plenary Session of Judges, will be applied. The measures include the decision that judgement and sentencing will be dealt with as one and not two separate procedures. They also included the decision to have conferences before either of the parties present their evidence, during which parties may be ordered to outline contested and non-contested issues in order to allow judges to shorten examination of some witnesses, or to reduce the number of witnesses to be called to prove the same facts.

Mr. Musema is charged with seven counts of Genocide (alternatively Complicity in Genocide), Conspiracy to Commit Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, and Serious Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II thereof. He is alleged to have committed these crimes in Gisovu and Gishyita communes, Kibuye Prefecture, Rwanda, between April and June 1994.

The accused was arrested on 11 February 1995 in Switzerland and transferred to Arusha on 20 May 1997. On 18 November 1997, during his initial appearance, Mr Musema pleaded not guilty to all the counts against him. He is defended by Counsel Steven Kay from the United Kingdom and Michail Wladimiroff from The Netherlands, both appointed by the Registrar.

Journalists are invited to be in the Press and Public gallery at 9.00 am. Press passes issued last year need to be renewed. Journalists already accredited should bring one passport size picture while those seeking fresh accreditation are required to bring two passport size pictures and their ID cards.