Court Adjourns Early as Defense Proceeds Swiftly through Cross-Examination

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

Evidentiary hearings resumed Thursday, June 14, 2012 at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) with the continued testimony of former bodyguard of Pol Pot, Oeun Tan, in Case 002 against accused Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, and Ieng Sary. Though all parties of the defense put questions to the witness, cross-examinations concluded shortly before noon. With no reserve witness waiting to testify, President Nonn postponed further proceedings until the following week, when witness TCW 321 would begin testimony before the Chamber.

Three hundred students from Phnom Kravanh High School in Svay Rieng province came to view the morning’s proceedings; leaving around 4:00 a.m., the group made the 140 km trip to arrive before the Chamber convened at 9:00 a.m. Despite the early departure and five-hour bus ride, the students appeared refreshed and composed, chatting enthusiastically with one another before being drawn to silence as the Chamber curtain opened before them. They presented themselves as model students for the duration of morning proceedings, sitting in silent fascination while court proceeded in front of them.

The 100 villagers who arrived from Kandal province shortly after noon, however, had to settle for a tour of the facilities. The villagers appeared disappointed that they had just missed the opportunity to watch the trial…

Read more: CTM_Blog_6-14-12

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.