Tension and Drama between the Defense and the Bench Mark Wednesday’s Hearings at the ECCC

by Kelley Dupre Andrews, JD/LLM (International Human Rights) candidate, Class of 2015, Northwestern University School of Law
— 30 May, 2012

In a day filled with tension and heated debate, defense counsel for the accused Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, and Khieu Samphan had their turn to examine witness Ny Kan in his third day of testimony, Wednesday, May 30, 2012 in the trial of Case 002 at the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia (“ECCC”).

Two buses of villagers from the Kandal Stung district of the Kandal province were present for the proceedings, along with a significant number of Western visitors. The villagers showed noticeably greater interest than the school students from previous days that week. When the curtains opened a few minutes past 9:00 a.m., revealing the Chamber and the various parties within it, the villagers leaned forward in their chairs, to take in the scene before them.

Before resuming the third day of witness Ny Kan’s testimony, Trial Chamber President Nil Nonn requested an update on accused Ieng Sary. Like the previous two days, the court officer announced that Ieng Sary was in his holding cell and would be following proceedings remotely, having waived his right to be present in the Chamber. President Nonn added that Ieng Sary would be able to assist his counsel within the Chamber through audio-visual means.

Before handing the floor over to defense counsel for examination, President Nonn asked if any of his fellow judges would like to put forth questions to the witness. Judge Jean-Marc Lavergne stated that he had a few comments and questions for the witness…

Cambodia Tribunal Monitor’s Trial Observer posts are written according to the personal observations and opinions of the writer and do not constitute a transcript of ECCC proceedings or the views of Cambodia Tribunal Monitor and/or its partners. Official court transcripts for the ECCC’s hearings may be accessed at the ECCC website.