Désiré Munyaneza has been found guilty of war crimes in a Canadian court for his part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The convicted is the first time the law that allows residents to be tried for crimes committed abroad has been used.
Judge André Denis handed down the decision in a Montreal, Quebec court Friday morning and said he had no hesitation based on the evidence and witness testimony.
“The accused’s criminal intent was demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt, as was his culpable violence,” Denis wrote.
The judge wrote that Munyaneza intended to destroy the Tutsi ethnic group and to that end murdered, wounded and raped.
Munyaneza, 42, was found guilty on all seven counts brought against him related to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Most of the witnesses testified behind closed doors because of fears of reprisal.
The defense lawyer, Richard Perras, has said he will appeal.
Munyaneza came to Canada in 1997 and settled in Toronto where he tried and failed to get refugee status.
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