Family situation

Notion(s) Filing Case
Appeal Judgement - 28.11.2007 NAHIMANA et al. (Media case)
(ICTR-99-52-A)

1108. The Appeals Chamber notes that, in general, the Tribunal and the ICTY do not accord great weight to the family situation of the accused, given the gravity of the crimes committed.[1] Therefore, even if the Trial Chamber had erred, such error could not have had any impact in this particular case, given the gravity of the crimes committed by the Appellant and the absence of exceptional family circumstances. […]

[1] Jokić Appeal Judgement, para. 62; Kunarac et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 413; Jelisić Trial Judgement, para. 124; Furundžija Trial Judgement, para. 284.

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Notion(s) Filing Case
Appeal Judgement - 08.05.2012 NTABAKUZE Aloys
(ICTR-98-41A-A)

284. The Appeals Chamber notes that, in determining the sentence, the Trial Chamber expressly took into account Ntabakuze’s family situation and his lengthy public service to his country as a military officer, as well as his social, educational, and professional background.[1] The Trial Chamber, however, concluded that the gravity of the crimes and the aggravating factors greatly outweighed these mitigating factors.[2] The Appeals Chamber recalls that in general only little weight is afforded to the family situation of the convicted person in the absence of exceptional family circumstances.[3] Similarly, the lack of a previous criminal record and a purported likelihood of successful rehabilitation are common characteristics among many convicted persons which are accorded little weight, if any, in mitigation in the absence of exceptional circumstances.[4] As for Ntabakuze’s “exemplary” military career, the Appeals Chamber also considers that it was in the Trial Chamber’s discretion not to accord this factor any mitigating value in the absence of particular reasons for doing so. Ntabakuze does not submit that exceptional circumstances obliged the Trial Chamber to accord special value to any of the factors listed above.

[1] Trial Judgement, para. 2273, referring to ibid., paras. 58-63.

[2] Trial Judgement, para. 2275.

[3] Nahimana et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 1108, referring to Jokić Judgement on Sentencing Appeal, para. 62. See also Kunarac et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 413.

[4] See Ntagerura et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 439.

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ICTR Rule Rule 101(B)(ii) ICTY Rule Rule 101(B)(ii)