A British barrister who previously represented DRC’s Jean Pierre Bemba has been hired by the International Criminal Court to represent wanted Lord’s Resistance Army rebel leader, Joseph Kony.
Peter Haynes, who has more than 30 years’ experience was on Monday announced as the successful candidate for the position of the defence lawyer for Kony.
This followed applications by several lawyers, including Ugandans on the request of the ICC to represent the rebel leader during the pre-trial.
A panel composed of the Director of the Division of Judicial Services, the Head of the New York Liaison Office of the Court, the Chief of the Counsel Support Section and the President of the International Criminal Court Bar Association(ICCBA) sat and zeroed on Haynes as the successful candidate.
“The panel agreed that the suitable candidates to represent the interests of Mr Kony during in absentia confirmation proceedings would be the candidates with the highest scores, namely Mr Peter Haynes,” the ICC said.
“Based on the foregoing, the registry recommends to appoint Mr Peter Haynes as counsel for Mr Kony in the present proceedings.”
According to ICC, the pre-trial which will lead to either confirmation or dropping of charges against Kony will start on October, 13.
Haynes will therefore represent Kony during the pre-trial only.
ICC issued an arrest warrant against Kony 19 years ago in 2005.
“It is not a trial since the case is still under pre-trial. It is a public preliminary hearing to not confirm any of the charges brought by the prosecutor against Kony. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This can happen in the absence of Kony. However, if the case goes for trial, it can’t happen in the absence of Kony,” the ICC registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler told journalists in Kampala last month.
