The case is considered the second most important trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), charged with investigating the genocide in which up to one million Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus were killed.
The prosecution will start summing up before the defence presents its final arguments in the case.
The trial will then go into deliberation before a verdict expected perhaps later this year, according to a court source.
Prosecutors at the international court claim that Ferdinand Nahimana, Hassan Ngeze and Jean Bosco Barayagwiza used the media to incite and fuel the genocide, which the Rwandan government says left up to one million dead.
Nahimana helped found Radio-Television Libre Mille Collines (RTLM), Ngeze was editor-in-chief of the Kangura newspaper and Barayagwia was a founder member of a hard-line party and an RTLM board member.
The prosecution contends that Radio-Television Libre Mille Collines played a major role in inciting the genocide.
The three defendants have pleaded not guilty on all counts before the UN tribunal, which was created in late 1994 to try suspected ringleaders in the genocide.
The case is a key test in international justice of the role of the media in inciting ethnic hatred and genocide.
It is considered second only in importance to that of a group of former senior Rwandan army officers including ex-defence ministry chief, colonel Theoneste Bagosora, claimed by prosecutors to be the architect of the genocide.
That case is due to resume in September. – Sapa-AFP.
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here







