Trial Chamber V of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will deliver its judgment in the case of The Prosecutor v. Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona in a public hearing on 24 July 2025, at 14:00 (The Hague time).
The session will be transmitted live through the ICC website. Practical information on attending the session and information materials will be available in due course.
The judges will either acquit or convict each of the accused. The accused persons before the ICC are presumed innocent. While the Prosecution must prove the guilt of the accused, the Trial Chamber will convict the accused only if it is satisfied that the charges have been proven beyond reasonable doubt. The Chamber bases its decision only on the applicable law and on evidence submitted and discussed before it at trial. In response to the verdict, the parties will be able to appeal the decision before the ICC's Appeals Chamber.
Trial Chamber V is composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt, Presiding Judge, Judge Péter Kovács, Judge Chang-ho Chung and Judge Beti Hohler (Alternate Judge). The judges ensure the fairness of the trial and that the rights of both parties and of the victims are respected.
Order Scheduling the Delivery of the Judgment
Background
The trial opened on 16 February 2021 before Trial Chamber V. The Prosecution called 112 witnesses to testify. The Legal Representatives of Victims also called three witnesses to testify. The Defence teams for both accused called a total of 55 witnesses. The Chamber called one witness. On 27 and 28 August 2024, the presentation of evidence of the Defence ended with an unsworn statement of Mr. Ngaïssona. Prior to the holding of closing statements from 9 to 12 December 2024, the parties and participants also filed their closing briefs. On 13 and 16 December 2024, the parties and participants filed their submissions on potential sentencing.
For further information on this case, check here.
