News Articles

In its judgement on appeals in Case 001 against Kaing Guek Eav alias Duch, the Supreme Court Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) affirmed the Trial Chamber's previous decision to compile and post on the ECCC's official website all statements of apology and acknowledgements of responsibility made by Kaing Guek Eav alias Duch during the course of the trial, including the appeal stage. The compilation and publication of these statements was a reparation award for the Civil Parties in Case 001.

Week commencing Monday 8 October: Document hearings on administrative structures, recently scheduled in memorandum E233, shall commence after the conclusion of the evidence of TCW-428. The Trial Chamber will then recess for the Pchum Ben holiday on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 October 2012.

The Trial Chamber has reclassified the expert reports regarding IENG Thirith's health in order to provide the public with a fuller understanding of the issues underlying the experts' diagnosis of dementia (likely caused by Alzheimer's disease). In light of paragraph 3 of the 29 August 2012 report, the Trial Chamber consulted with the court-appoint medical experts prior to this reclassification. The Trial Chamber previously reclassified a medical report after it was discussed in depth at the hearing on IENG Thirith's fitness in August 2011.The reports are:

On 17 August 2012, the Trial Chamber held a Trial Management Meeting.This meeting was resumed and concluded on 27 August 2012. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss measures to streamline the current trial in Case 002/01 and to ensure that it may conclude as soon as possible. It also invited submissions from the parties regarding the Co-Prosecutors' proposal to expand the scope of this trial. Reflecting its principal purpose as a management meeting, these hearings were conducted in closed session.

A hearing on Accused Ieng Thirith’s fitness to stand trial will take place on 30-31 August 2012 at the Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. The Chamber will hear findings of the court-appointed experts’ reassessment of her fitness in light of recent medical treatment.Thursday’s hearing will commence at 10:30 am while Friday’s hearing will begin at 9 am and may continue all day if necessary. All accredited media are invited to observe the hearing.

Below are answers to several frequently asked questions in relation to the Trial Chambers hearing on Ieng Thirith’s fitness to stand trial scheduled for 30 - 31 August. Q. What does “fitness to stand trial” mean?

On 29 June 2012, the Trial Chamber issued its Decision on Misconduct of the NUON Chea Defence.  This decision, which is public and which followed an oral warning given in court on 21 June 2012, provides examples of a pattern of misconduct by two international members of the NUON Chea Defence team (Mr. Michiel PESTMAN and Mr. Andrew IANUZZI).  This decision was accompanied by notification to the Bar Associations of Amsterdam and New York State, being the bar associations to which Mr. PESTMAN and Mr.

After the conclusion of today’s trial hearing, the Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) adjourned for a judicial recess in Case 002 until 16 July 2012. The next trial hearing will commence at 9 am on Monday 16 July, when the Trial Chamber is expected to start hearing testimony from Dr. David Chandler.

United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Margot Wallström recently called on the Government of Cambodia and the ECCC to “use their full and independent capacities to honour [the] courage [of Khmer Rouge-era victims of sexual violence] and acknowledge the sacrifices of the victims and survivors”, urging that these crimes be given “the full benefit of the court’s resources and attention, as afforded other crimes against humanity before the ECCC” (Cambodia Daily, 29 May 2012).

After the conclusion of this morning's trial hearing, the Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia) adjourned for a judicial recess in Case 002 until 17 May 2012. The next trial hearing will commence at 9 am on 17 May 2012.

The Trial Chamber will start questioning the witness Kaing Guek Eav alias Duch in Case 002 on Monday 19 March 2012 at 13:30. A live video feed will be available on this page. The stream in the player below is hosted in Cambodia. In case you experience performance issues, an additional feed is available at http://www.unlb.org/streaming/channel_01.asp 

The Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) today adjourned for a judicial recess, thereby concluding the first Case 002 trial session of 2012. During the recess the Trial Chamber will prepare for the next trial session.  Trial Chamber hearings in Case 002 against the defendants Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea and Ieng Sary will resume on 12 March 2012. 

In order to assist both representatives of the media and viewers of our live video stream around the world, we have created a Who is Who in the Courtroom page which is available at http://www.eccc.gov.kh/en/who-is-who.  On this page you will find photos and biographies of the judges and the different parties appearing in the courtroom.   

The Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) will resume the hearing of evidence in Case 002 against Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea and Ieng Sary at 9:00 on Tuesday 10 January 2012.

The Trial Chamber judges completed their questioning of Nuon Chea about events prior to Khmer Rouge seizing power in Cambodia in April 1975. The Co-Prosecutors were thereafter given the floor to put additional questions to the accused.Part 1:Part 2:

Khieu Samphan asked for leave to make comments to some of the charges against him during the Trial Chamber hearing on 13 December 2011. He also said that  he would not be answering any questions from the judges or parties at this point in the proceedings, but that he will consider his position owith regards to questions after he has heard the Co-Prosecutors present their evidence against him.Part1:Part 2:

Ieng Sary answered a few biographical questions from the president of the Trial Chamber before he exercised his right to remain silent and not to answer any questions addressed to him.

On 13 December 2011, the Judges of the Trial Chamber continued questioning Nuon Chea about events prior to Khmer Roge taking power in Cambodia in April 1975.Part 1:Part 2: 

The Trial Chamber judges continued the questioning of Nuon Chea in the hearing on 6 December 2011.  Part 1: Part 2:

Nuon Chea answered questions from the Trial Chamber Judges for  a total of about two hours on 5 December 2011. You can watch the entire two hours of questioning below. Part 1: Part 2:

While opening statements in Case 002 will take place as scheduled on 21 November 2011, the Trial Chamber today announced a brief adjournment of the hearing of evidence in the trial of Case 002, originally scheduled to commence before the ECCC on Monday 28 November 2011. The hearing of the evidence in Case 002 will now begin on Monday 5 December 2011.

On 17 November 2011, the Trial Chamber issued its Decision on Accused IENG Thirith’s fitness to stand trial. This decision indicates that the Trial Chamber agreed that the Accused IENG Thirith is currently unfit to stand trial. IENG Thirith has been diagnosed as suffering from a progressive, degenerative illness. The Trial Chamber therefore unanimously considered it to be in the interests of justice to sever the charges against the Accused IENG Thirith in Case 002 pursuant to Internal Rule 89ter and to stay the proceedings against her.

On this page we have collected documents and background information which may be useful for media representatives covering the opening statements and the start of hearing of evidence in Case 002 against  Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith.

The Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has announced that the opening statements in Case 002 against Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith will commence on Monday 21 November 2011 at 9 am. with the following schedule: Monday 21 November 2011:Reading of the counts against each Accused.Opening Statements by the Co-Prosecutors.

The Trial Chamber today announced that opening statements in the trial in Case 002 will commence at 9.00 a.m. on Monday 21 November 2011 in the ECCC Main Courtroom and continue over the following days. The hearing of evidence in this case will begin on Monday 28 November 2011. The Initial Hearing in Case 002, which under the ECCC’s Internal Rules amounts to the official opening of trial, was held before the Chamber between 27 and 30 June 2011.