On 14 and 15 February 2008, the parties presented their closing arguments in the trial of Colonel Tharcisse Renzaho, former prefect of Kigali-Ville. The date for delivery of the judgment will be announced later.

Renzaho, who was born in 1944 in Kibungo préfecture, is facing six counts charging him with genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity for murder and rape, and serious violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol II. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The Prosecution asked the Chamber to find Renzaho guilty and seeks a life sentence for him. It submitted that he was a man of great power and authority and that his offences led to the killing of tens of thousands of civilians.

The Defence team argued that Renzaho had neither the power nor the means to control the situation in Kigali-Ville. It submitted that the Prosecution had not proven the allegations and requested that he be acquitted.

The trial commenced on 8 January 2007. The Prosecution closed its case on 6 March 2007, whereas the Defence closed its case on 6 September 2007. In all, the parties presented 53 witnesses in the course of 49 trial days.

The Prosecution team was led by Senior Trial Attorney Jonathan Moses and included Trial Attorney Katya Melluish. The Defence closing arguments were presented by Me. François Cantier (Lead Counsel) from France and Barnabé Nekuie (Co-Counsel) from Cameroon. The case is heard by Trial Chamber I, composed of Judges Erik Møse, presiding, Sergei Alekseevich Egorov and Florence Rita Arrey.