Lack of notice

Notion(s) Filing Case
Decision on Interlocutory Appeal on Questions of Law - 18.09.2006 BAGOSORA et al. (Military I)
(ICTR-98-41-AR73)

Paras 42-46: the Appeals Chamber found that when a party wishes to object to the introduction of evidence of certain material facts on the basis of lack of notice of these material facts, it should do so at the time the evidence is introduced. Nonetheless,

45. […] [W]hen an objection based on lack of notice is raised at trial (albeit later than at the time the evidence was adduced), the Trial Chamber should determine whether the objection was so untimely as to consider that the burden of proof has shifted from the Prosecution to the Defence in demonstrating whether the accused’s ability to defend himself has been materially impaired. In doing so, the Trial Chamber should take into account factors such as whether the Defence has provided a reasonable explanation for its failure to raise its objection at the time the evidence was introduced and whether the Defence has shown that the objection was raised as soon as possible thereafter. 

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Notion(s) Filing Case
Decision on Interlocutory Appeal on Questions of Law - 18.09.2006 BAGOSORA et al. (Military I)
(ICTR-98-41-AR73)

Para. 18:

18. When the Defence is of the view that the Prosecution introduces evidence of material facts of which it had no notice, it can make an objection to the admission of such evidence for lack of notice.[1] If the Trial Chamber agrees with the Defence that insufficient notice has been given, it should exclude the challenged evidence in relation to the unpleaded material facts,[2] require the Prosecution to amend the indictment, grant an adjournment to allow the Defence adequate time to respond to the additional allegations,[3] or take other measures to preserve the rights of the accused to a fair trial.[4]  

[1] Prosecutor v. Anto Furund‘ija, Case No. IT-95-17/1-A, Judgement of 21 July 2000 (“Furund‘ija Appeal Judgement”), para. 61.

[2] In this connection, the Appeals Chamber recalls that a Chamber can find the particular evidence inadmissible to prove a material fact of which the accused was not on notice, but admissible with respect to other allegations sufficiently pleaded: Arsène Shalom Ntahobali & Pauline Nyiramasuhuko v. The Prosecutor, Case No. ICTR-97-21-AR73, “Decision of the Appeals by Pauline Nyiramasuhuko and Arsène Shalom Ntahobali on the ‘Decision on Defence Urgent Motion to Declare Parts of the Evidence of Witnesses RV and QBZ inadmissible’”, 2 July 2004, para. 15; Pauline Nyiramasuhuko v. The Prosecutor, Case No. ICTR-98-42-AR73, “Decision on Pauline Nyiramasuhuko’s Request for Reconsideration”, 27 September 2004, para. 12; Muvunyi Decision, para. 55 (“If evidence is relevant to a charge in the current indictment and is probative of that charge, then subject to any other ground for exclusion that may be advanced by the Defence, that evidence should be admissible.”).

[3] Kupreškić et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 92; Kvočka et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 31; Naletilić & Martinović Appeal Judgement, para. 25.

[4] For instance, in certain circumstances, the Trial Chamber could allow the Defence to recall witnesses for cross-examination after the Defence has completed further investigations: see The Prosecutor v. Édouard Karemera et al., Case No. ICTR-98-44-AR73, “Decision on Prosecutor’s Interlocutory Appeal Against Trial Chamber III Decision of 8 October 2003 Denying Leave to File an Amended Indictment”, 19 December 2003 (“Karemera Decision”), para. 28. 

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Notion(s) Filing Case
Appeal Judgement - 29.09.2014 KAREMERA & NGIRUMPATSE
(ICTR-98-44-A)

597.   […] The Appeals Chamber has confirmed that a trial chamber has the discretion to admit any relevant evidence which it deems to have probative value, even where it is not possible to convict an accused on such evidence due to lack of notice.[1]

[1] Arsène Shalom Ntahobali and Pauline Nyiramasuhuko v. The Prosecutor, Case No. ICTR-97-21-AR73, Decision on the Appeals by Pauline Nyiramasuhuko and Arsène Shalom Ntahobali on the “Decision on Defence Urgent Motion to Declare Parts of the Evidence of Witnesses RV and QBZ inadmissible”, 2 July 2004, paras. 14-16.

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