ICC convenes status conference on Monday

By Felix Olick

Kenya: Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have convened a special sitting for Deputy President William Ruto to fine tune outstanding issues ahead of the commencement of his trial.

The three judge bench has scheduled a status conference on Monday, just a day before the trials against Ruto and his co-accused Joshua Arap Sang officially kicks off.

 “The status conference is convened in order to discuss any outstanding matters related to the trial preparation,” the three judge bench headed by Nigerian Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said Wednesday.

After the status conference, there would be a joint press conference of the defence, the prosecution, the registry and lawyers representing victims.

Ruto’s Lead Counsel Karim Khan and ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda are among those lined up to address the media.

“The ICC Registrar, Herman von Hebel, will open the Press Conference. The ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, the Defence Counsel for William Samoei Ruto, Karim Khan, the Defence Counsel for Joshua Arap Sang, Joseph Kipchumba Kigen-Katwa, and the Legal Representative of the Victims, Wilfred Nderitu, will then make short statements,” a statement from the ICC read in part.

“There will also be an opportunity to ask questions for journalists attending the event in The Hague,” they added.

Another status conference to discuss the trial schedule for President Uhuru Kenyatta is planned for Friday.

Also to be discussed during the Friday’s meeting is the request by Uhuru to be present via video link, in his trial that kicks off on November 12.