Prosecutor expresses regret at the death of Sam Hinga Norman

Going down Memory Lane.

This press release was first published February 22, 2007.

SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR

PRESS RELEASE

Freetown, 22 February 2007

Prosecutor Expresses Regret at the Death of Sam Hinga Norman

The following is a Statement by Stephen Rapp, the Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

At noon today, the Office of the Prosecutor was informed of the death of Sam Hinga Norman, Defendant before the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Norman had been taken to a military hospital in Dakar, Senegal on January 17 for routine medical procedures.

We deeply regret the death of Hinga Norman and express our sincere condolences to his family. His death means that there will not be a judgment issued by the Trial Chamber in his case.

All parties to this case deserved to see a verdict rendered. Hinga Norman’s death means that the people of Sierra Leone are deprived of their right to see justice done in an important and high-profile case before the Special Court.

Our mission, our pledge and our duty has been and remains to bring justice to those who bear the greatest responsibility for the terrible atrocities suffered by the people of Sierra Leone. When an Accused dies before judgment, then justice is denied.

While we profoundly regret the death of Hinga Norman, we will continue our work to see that justice is done in the name of and on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone.

The Prosecutor indicted Hinga Norman in March 2003 with eight counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from acts allegedly carried out by forces under his command during Sierra Leone’s civil conflict.

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