Decision issued after close of proceedings

Notion(s) Filing Case
Decision on Rescinding Protective Measures - 14.11.2016 KAMUHANDA Jean de Dieu
(MICT-13-33)

6. As a preliminary matter, the Appeals Chamber notes that the Impugned Decision was rendered after the close of the trial and appeal proceedings in Kamuhanda’s case[1] and that, therefore, Rule 80(B) of the Rules, which requires certification to appeal a decision rendered at trial, by its plain language is not applicable in the present case.[2] The Appeals Chamber further observes that Rule 86 of the Rules, which regulates measures for the protection of victims and witnesses, does not expressly provide for an appeal as of right or address the issue of whether a decision rendered by a Single Judge after the close of trial and appeal proceedings is subject to appeal. In interpreting an equivalent provision in the ICTR Rules, the ICTR Appeals Chamber has held that an applicant is entitled to appeal a decision on witness protective measures which was rendered after the close of the trial and appeal proceedings.[3] Bearing this practice in mind and in light of the importance of the protection of victims and witnesses to the proper functioning of the Mechanism,[4] the Appeals Chamber considers that it has jurisdiction over this appeal.

[1] See supra [Prosecutor v. Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda, Case No. MICT-13-33, Decision on Appeal of Decision Declining to Rescind Protective Measures for a Deceased Witness, 14 November 2016], paras. 2, 3.

[2] Rule 80(B) of the Rules reads: “Decisions rendered on such motions are without interlocutory appeal save with certification by the Trial Chamber, which may grant such certification if the decision involves an issue that would significantly affect the fair and expeditious conduct of the proceedings or the outcome of the trial, and for which, in the opinion of the Trial Chamber an immediate resolution by the Appeals Chamber may materially advance the proceedings.” See also Eliézer Niyitegeka v. The Prosecutor, Case No. ICTR-96-14-R75, Decision on Motion for Clarification, 20 June 2008 (“Niyitegeka Decision of 20 June 2008”), para. 13 (interpreting the parallel for certification in the ICTR Rules of Procedure and Evidence (“ICTR Rules”), Rule 73(B) of the ICTR Rules).

[3] See Niyitegeka Decision of 20 June 2008, para. 14. See also Georges A.N. Rutaganda v. The Prosecutor, Case No. ICTR-96-3-R, Order to the Registrar Concerning Georges Rutaganda’s Access to Documents, 22 January 2009, p. 2.

[4] See [Prosecutor v. Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda, Case No. MICT-13-33] Decision on a Motion for a Public Redacted Version of the 27 January 2010 Decision on Application of The Prosecutor of the Tribunal for Variation of Protective Measures, 11 May 2016, p. 2; Prosecutor v. Dragoljub Kunarac et al., Case Nos. MICT-15-88-R86H.1/MICT-15-88-R86H.2, Decision on Prosecution Requests for a Public Redacted Version of a Decision on Applications Pursuant to Rule 86(H), 9 February 2016, p. 1 and references cited therein.

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ICTR Rule Rule 73(B) IRMCT Rule Rule 80(B);
Rule 86
Notion(s) Filing Case
Decision on Appeals of Decisions Rendered by a Single Judge - 09.08.2017 NIYITEGEKA Eliézer
(MICT-12-16-R)

10.     The Appeals Chamber accepts Niyitegeka’s argument that, at the time he filed the Request for Certification, it was not clear that he was entitled to appeal as of right the Decision of 29 January 2016, which was issued, in part, on the basis of Rules 73 and 86 of the Rules [of Procedure and Evidence of the Mechanism (“”Rules”)]. The Appeals Chamber recalls that the Appeals Chamber of the ICTR had ruled in Niyitegeka’s case that Rule 73 of the ICTR Rules concerning the requirement of certification prior to appeal applies only to interlocutory appeals during an applicant’s proceedings before a trial chamber and had held that an applicant is entitled to appeal as of right a decision pursuant to Rule 75(G) of the ICTR Rules rendered by another trial chamber after the close of that applicant’s trial and appeal proceedings.[1] Subsequently, Rule 75 of the ICTR Rules – the equivalent of Rule 86 of the Rules – was amended to provide for an express right of appeal of decisions taken under that rule when issued after the conclusion of an applicant’s trial proceedings.[2] However, Rule 86 of the Rules does not provide the same express right of appeal of decisions issued under it after the close of trial proceedings. In addition, only after Niyitegeka filed his Request for Certification did the Appeals Chamber clarify that the requirement of certification to appeal is not applicable to decisions under Rule 86 of the Rules rendered after the close of an applicant’s trial and appeal proceedings and that there lies a right of appeal in such circumstances.[3]

[…]

12.     […] [T]he Appeals Chamber clarifies that an appeal lies as of right of any decision taken under Rule 73 of the Rules by a single judge or trial chamber after an applicant’s trial and appeal proceedings have concluded. This is necessary to give full effect to the continuous obligation imposed upon the Prosecution by Rule 73(E) of the Rules to disclose exculpatory material after the completion of trial and any subsequent appeal.[4]

[1] Niyitegeka Decision of 20 June 2008 [Eliézer Niyitegeka v. The Prosecutor, Case No. ICTR-96-14-R75, Decision on Motion for Clarification, 20 June 2008], paras. 13, 14.

[2] Compare ICTR Rules of 14 March 2008 with ICTR Rules of 1 October 2009. Specifically, the ICTR Rules of 1 October 2009. Specifically, the ICTR Rules of 1 October 2009 were amended to include Rule 75J, which states: “Decisions under paragraph (G) and, after the close of trial proceedings, paragraph (A), and under Rule 69, are subject to appeal directly to a full bench of the Appeals Chamber by either party. Appeals shall be filed within fifteen days of the filing of the impugned decision. A responding party shall, thereafter, file any response within ten days from the date of the filling of the appeal. The Appellant may file a reply within four days of the filing of the response. Failure to comply with these time limits shall constitute a waiver of the right to appeal.”

[3]See Kamuhanda Decision of 14 November 2016 [Case No. MICT-13-33, Decision on Appeal of Decision Declining to Rescind Protective Measures for a Deceased Witness]], para. 6. 

[4] Cf. Prosecutor v. Naser Orić, Case No. MICT-14-79, Decision on an Application for Leave to Appeal the Single Judge’s Decision of 10 December 2015, 17 February 2016 (“Orić Decision of 17 February 2016”), para. 6. 

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ICTR Rule Rule 73;
Rule 75
ICTY Rule Rule 73;
Rule 75
IRMCT Rule Rule 73;
Rule 86
Notion(s) Filing Case
Decision on Appeals of Decisions Rendered by a Single Judge - 09.08.2017 NIYITEGEKA Eliézer
(MICT-12-16-R)

12. […] the Appeals Chamber clarifies that an appeal lies as of right of any decision taken under Rule 73 of the Rules by a single judge or trial chamber after an applicant’s trial and appeal proceedings have concluded. This is necessary to give full effect to the continuous obligation imposed upon the Prosecution by Rule 73(E) of the Rules to disclose exculpatory material after the completion of trial and any subsequent appeal.[1]

[1] Cf. Prosecutor v. Naser Orić, Case No. MICT-14-79, Decision on an Application for Leave to Appeal the Single Judge’s Decision of 10 December 2015, 17 February 2016 (“Orić Decision of 17 February 2016”), para. 6.

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IRMCT Rule Rule 73;
Rule 146