Pastor's trial

In an ordinary street in an ordinary town Francois Bazaramba lived an ordinary life.

But prosecutors say he was no ordinary man. Early on Tuesday, he will go on trial accused of genocide.

The Rwandan authorities say this pastor, a school headmaster, planned and carried out the massacre of 5,000 people, many of them women and children.

He faces the charge of genocide, trying to wipe out Tutsis, and faces a further 15 counts of murder.

He denies the charges.

Francois Bazaramba faces life in prison if convicted of genocide
Since his arrest in April 2007, his legal team has interviewed witnesses, gathered evidence, prepared its case and insisted that it will prove his innocence.

Ville Hoikkala, a member of the team, told me: "We have spoken to people who lived in the area at the time. We have spoken to former prisoners who have told us witnesses for the prosecution were tortured to give their story. We will prove he did not do this."

Augustin Ruzima lives a short drive from Helsinki.

In his small apartment, there are many reminders of the place he calls home. But he fears he will never be able to return to Rwanda.

He successfully applied for asylum here.

He knows the pastor – has met him several times.

He finds it hard to believe what the prosecutors allege.

"I don't recognise the man they describe," he says.

But he believes that for the future of his homeland, the case must be heard.

"If he did this, which I doubt, if he did this and the justice proves it, I think the next step is to say sorry, to apologise to the people. Then he must face the consequences. The people who died cannot be resurrected but the people who are still alive must know who was responsible for what happened."

The case is being held here because Finland signed an international agreement to investigate and try genocide cases if the suspect lives in Finland.

There will be no jury. A panel of four judges will hear the evidence, and will move the entire proceedings to Rwanda for at least two weeks to hear from witnesses there.

A verdict is expected before the end of the year.

If found guilty, pastor Francois Bazaramba faces life in jail.

Source: al-Jazeerah