Up to 70 witnesses could testify against Duterte in ICC trial

National

AS MANY 70 witnesses could be called in the International Criminal Court (ICC) trial of former president Rodrigo Duterte, after prosecutors formally submitted their witness and evidence lists ahead of the proceedings.

ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang submitted the lists on August 31, meeting the deadline imposed by Trial Chamber III.

The three-page filing was classified as confidential because “both include sensitive witness information.”

Duterte’s trial is set to begin on November 30, unless further developments result in its postponement or adjournment.

At the first status conference in May, ICC senior trial lawyer Julian Nicholls said the prosecution could present as many as 70 witnesses against Duterte.

The proposed witnesses include 31 insiders, 17 crime-base witnesses and 12 others “who are relevant to explain the background and the contextual elements of the crimes charged.”

Of the total, the prosecution plans to call between 25 and 30 witnesses to provide viva voce, or verbal, testimony before the court.

The remaining witnesses will be presented under Rule 68 of the ICC, which permits “the introduction of previously recorded audio or video testimony of a witness, or the transcript or other documented evidence of such testimony.”

The prosecution has estimated that the direct examination of its witnesses will take about 175 to 200 hours.

The length of the proceedings has also been a consideration for the trial chamber. Presiding Judge Joanna Korner previously called for an expeditious process, citing Duterte’s advanced age.

According to a Philstar report, Korner said the presentation of evidence “must take place in the shortest and clearest way” and urged the parties to avoid unnecessary and lengthy legal arguments.

The court has yet to release the findings of the independent medical panel tasked with determining whether Duterte is fit to stand trial.

Meanwhile, Duterte’s defense on Monday sought the refiling of the document containing the charges against the former president.(MyTVCebu)