- Title: U.N.-backed tribunal in Cambodia upholds life in jail for Khmer Rouge leaders
- Date: 23rd November 2016
- Summary: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (NOVEMBER 23, 2016) (REUTERS) CO-PROSECUTORS SITTING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) CAMBODIAN PROSECUTOR, CHEA LEANG, SAYING: "The decision by this court today is a historic victory for all of us who are the victims, not only those who live in the country nut outside of Cambodia too. So they all received justice and we, the prosecution believe that they can reduce their sufferings when they hear about the court decision." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS PROSECUTOR, NICOLAS KOAM, SAYING: "What I hope is that this judgement and the judgement in case 02/02 which includes many more charges and many of the more serious charges of what happen during the DK regime will provide these victims some measure of peace, some knowledge that the world has acknowledged the sufferings that they went through and that persons who are responsible, criminally responsible for that." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) NUON CHEA DEFENSE LAWYER, VICTOR COPE, SAYING: "Of course what I couldn't explain to Nuon Chea is acquittal on crucial points, why it was life sentences again? That is something I just, maybe you have a suggestion but but it's something that I cannot explain to him. Not that it matters materially because he is 90 years old and you know he will have only a short time left. So materially it's of no concern but if you grant so many points in the appeal then why is it still a life sentences?" A SECURITY GUARD STANDING AND WATCHING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 8th December 2016 09:17
- Keywords: Cambodia Khmer Rouge tribunal life sentence Nuon Chea Khieu Samphan
- Location: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
- City: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
- Country: Cambodia
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA00159NZDXH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A U.N.-backed tribunal in Cambodia upheld a life sentence for two top cadres of the 1970s Khmer Rouge on Wednesday (November 23) for murder and crimes against humanity.
It was the tribunal's second conviction against those responsible for the deaths of as many as 2.2 million Cambodians, in what was one of the bloodiest chapters of the twentieth century.
"The decision by this court today is a historic victory for all of us who are the victims, not only those who live in the country nut outside of Cambodia too. So they all received justice and we, the prosecution believe that they can reduce their sufferings when they hear about the court decision," said Cambodian prosecutor Chea Leang.
The Supreme Court Chamber said Khmer Rouge "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, 90, and former President Khieu Samphan, 85, were guilty of crimes against humanity, murder, persecution on political grounds and other inhumane acts over the forced evacuation of Phnom Penh after the fall of the city in 1975.
"What I hope is that this judgement and the judgement in case 02/02 which includes many more charges and many of the more serious charges of what happen during the DK regime will provide these victims some measure of peace, some knowledge that the world has acknowledged the sufferings that they went through and that persons who are responsible, criminally responsible for that," said United Nations prosecutor Nicolas Koam.
Nuon Chea's defense lawyer said he could not understand the court's decision.
The Cambodian trial chamber's first verdict and sentence in 2010 was life in jail for Kaing Guek Eav, alias "Duch", head of the notorious Tuol Sleng prison, where as many as 14,000 people were tortured and executed.
Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan were both in court to hear the ruling. The two face separate charges of genocide in a second phase of the complex, ongoing trial. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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