Mengistu verdict hearing starts

ADDIS ABABA – An Ethiopian judge yesterday began reading what was expected to be a lengthy verdict in the long-delayed genocide trial of former dictator Mengistu Haile Miriam.

Federal High Court Judge Methim Kiros started reading the numerous charges facing Mengistu who, like most of the 76 co-defendants, was being tried in absentia for alleged crimes committed during his 1974-1991 Marxist regime. It was not immediately clear how long it would take the judge to announce the verdict in the marathon 12-year trial, which had been beset by chronic logistical delays.One judicial source said that Kiros might only pronounce the court’s rulings and, if they were convictions, held off on announcing the penalties, which could include the death penalty.Mengistu, who was ousted in 1991 and now lived in exile in Zimbabwe, was accused of genocide and crimes against humanity along with other senior members of his so-called “Derg” (Committee) regime that ruled Ethiopia for 17 years.The charges related to atrocities committed during the 1977-78 “Red Terror” period when tens of thousands of people were killed or disappeared in Mengistu’s bid to turn Ethiopia into a Soviet-style workers’ state.He and his former top aides were also accused of the murders of Haile Selassie and Orthodox Patriarch Abuna Tefelows.The trial began in 1994 and many Ethiopians had hoped it was coming to an end when the court announced in November 2005 that it would render its verdict on May 23 after hearing from 730 witnesses.But on that day, the judge told a packed courtroom filled with the families of thousands of people killed during the Marxist regime that another postponement was necessary.Nampa-AFPIt was not immediately clear how long it would take the judge to announce the verdict in the marathon 12-year trial, which had been beset by chronic logistical delays.One judicial source said that Kiros might only pronounce the court’s rulings and, if they were convictions, held off on announcing the penalties, which could include the death penalty.Mengistu, who was ousted in 1991 and now lived in exile in Zimbabwe, was accused of genocide and crimes against humanity along with other senior members of his so-called “Derg” (Committee) regime that ruled Ethiopia for 17 years.The charges related to atrocities committed during the 1977-78 “Red Terror” period when tens of thousands of people were killed or disappeared in Mengistu’s bid to turn Ethiopia into a Soviet-style workers’ state.He and his former top aides were also accused of the murders of Haile Selassie and Orthodox Patriarch Abuna Tefelows.The trial began in 1994 and many Ethiopians had hoped it was coming to an end when the court announced in November 2005 that it would render its verdict on May 23 after hearing from 730 witnesses.But on that day, the judge told a packed courtroom filled with the families of thousands of people killed during the Marxist regime that another postponement was necessary.Nampa-AFP