ICC to decide lawyer Gicheru’s fate as legal teams make final submissions

The International Criminal Court (ICC) trial chamber III is set to make a decision on Lawyer Paul Gicheru, this is after the legal prosecution and defence teams made their final submissions.

The chamber is expected to, within reasonable time, pronounce its decision on the conviction or acquittal of Gicheru.

“The chamber will now retire to do our deliberation, as required of us under article 74 of the Rome Statute, so the hearing adjourned,” said judge Miatta Maria Samba.

Gicheru is facing charges against the administration of justice consisting in corruptly influencing witnesses regarding cases from the 2007/8 post-election violence

Mucheru had earlier asked the court to dismiss the case against him, while the prosecution has called for a guilty verdict on all 8 counts that the lawyer faces.

In this case, Mucheru is accused of compromising witnesses that were to testify against Deputy President William Ruto at the ICC.

The defence on their part maintains that Mucheru is not guilty of the charges and that the prosecution had not reached the legal threshold to have a guilty verdict against Gicheru.

“In assessing the evidence, keep this in mind, because you should only find proof beyond a reasonable doubt if you are certain, and we submit that in this particular case, the OTP has failed to live to this burden of proof, the only appropriate, fair and just verdict is a not guilty verdict on all counts,” Defence lawyer Michael G Karnavas.

However, the prosecution had argued that arguments by the defence had no merit and should not have a bearing on the outcome of the case.

“None of these arguments your honour disturbs the argument that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt…,” said Anton Steynberg for the prosecution.

“If the chamber accepts the prosecution evidence, it must return a verdict of guilty on all 8 counts of corrupt influence, contrary to article 1C of the statute,” added Steynberg.

The prosecutor called on the chamber to find Gicheru guilty.