Today marks the first day of the criminal trial in the case called “DeSoto” at the District Court of The Hague. The Rwandan genocide is one of the most horrific events in modern history. In a span of only 100 days, approximately one million people were murdered while the world watched and stood by. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the defendant, who held a local administrative position at the time, was allegedly involved in the genocide in his hometown in April 1994.
The defendant strongly denies that he contributed to the genocide. In fact, he did everything in his power to protect people. Unfortunately, he failed to prevent the crimes from taking place. The defendant’s family was also deeply affected by the genocide. A large portion of his family was murdered during the genocide.
The criminal trial will take place from June 17 through June 29, 2026. The defense’s closing argument is scheduled for June 24, 2026. The court’s verdict is expected on August 28.
The defendant in this case is represented by lawyers Barbara van Straaten and Frederieke Dölle.