Theoneste Bagosora, the mastermind behind the 1994 Rwandan genocide, was sentenced to life in prison on December 18, 2008 by a United Nations tribunal. More than 800,000 people were killed during a period of 100 days in the genocide.Times Online: Rwandan genocide mastermind sentenced to life in jail (December 18, 2008)
The Trial
The Tanzania-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was organized by the United nations in 1994. Bagosora was arrested in 1996 and has been in custody in Tanzania since 1997. Fox 11 (AZ): Planner of Rwandan massacres convicte.d (December 18, 2008) Two of Bagosora's former military commanders were convicted to life in prison after found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.Times Online: Rwandan genocide mastermind sentenced to life in jail (December 18, 2008) Bagosora argued in court that he was not responsible for the killings because they were not organized.The Independent: Mastermind behind Rwanda genocide jailed for life (December 19, 2008)