The role of Civil Parties took centre stage this week, as Civil Party lawyers and the Defense met head on over an array of legal issues concerning Civil Parties. Though their primary function is to establish the guilt of the Accused, the Co-Prosecutors too were asked in their capacity as officers of the Court to contribute to the debates.
In view of the ECCC’s unique status as pioneer of civil party participation in international/internationalized criminal proceedings, decisions issued by the Chamber this week represented milestones in the ECCC’s jurisprudence. It was finally pronounced that Civil Parties do not have standing to participate in the sentencing of the Accused. Also, Civil Party lawyers do not have standing to question the Accused and certain witnesses on the topic of the Accused’s character.
Read the report:
KRT Trial Monitor C001 Issue No. 19 – Hearing on Evidence (Week Ending 30 August 2009) corresponds with Duch on Trial Episode 18
Khmer Rouge Trial Monitor 