On Wednesday, 11 January 2017, the Trial Chamber concluded the evidentiary hearings in Case 002/02, involving allegations of crimes against humanity, genocide, and Grave Breaches of the Geneva Conventions against the Accused NUON Chea and KHIEU Samphan. The Chamber commenced evidentiary proceedings on 8 January 2015 and heard evidence on the topics of the Tram Kok Cooperatives (including Kraing Ta Chan Security Centre and the treatment of Buddhists), 1st January Dam Worksite, the Kampong Chhnang Airport Construction site, Trapeang Thma Dam worksite, the treatment of the Cham and the Vietnamese, the Au Kanseng, Phnom Kraol and S-21 security centres and internal purges, the regulation of marriage, nature of the armed conflict and, finally, the roles of the accused. The Chamber sat for 274 Hearing Days in Case 002/02 and heard the testimony of 114 Witnesses, 63 Civil Parties and 8 Experts. In addition, the Chamber provided the parties an opportunity to present key documentary evidence related to each trial topic and heard the initial specification of the Civil Party Lead Co-Lawyers’ requests for reparations. Throughout the trial in Case 002/02, hearings were attended by a total of 77,604 persons in the ECCC public gallery.
The Chamber set the deadline for closing briefs on 24 April 2017. The Lead Co-Lawyers Final Claim for Reparations is due on 22 May 2017. Closing Statements will be held starting 5 June 2017 with the Lead Co-Lawyers having 1 day to present their submissions; the Co-Prosecutors 3 days and each Defence team 2 days. One day has been allocated for Rebuttal and 4 hours for the Final Statements of the Accused, should they choose to exercise that right.
Case 002/01 against the same Accused, encompassing charges of crimes against humanity concerning the forced evacuation of Phnom Penh, other movements of the population and killings at Tuol Po Chrey, concluded with the delivery of a final Appeal Judgement in November 2016. The Trial Chamber will issue a decision on the remaining charges in Case 002 in due course.
The Trial Chamber adjourned the hearing until the Closing Statements on 5 June 2017.
A judgement in Case 002/02 will follow the Closing Statements in due course.