A prison official told a Montreal court on Monday that the security around a war crimes suspect has been beefed up after he was beaten by another inmate.
Desire Munyaneza, facing charges for his alleged role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, was beaten last Wednesday night at the detention centre where he was being held.
A judge delayed the case -- which marks the first time someone has been tried under Canada's seven-year-old Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act -- when Munyaneza arrived in court last Thursday in a wheelchair and with a swollen eye.
The director of the prison, Yves Sainte-Marie, was in court Monday at the request of the judge. He assured the court that extraordinary measures were now being taken to ensure that Munyaneza is safe in detention.
"Since April 11 the measures have been extraordinary,'' Sainte-Marie told the judge. "He will not have any more contact with other detainees.''
Sainte-Marie said Munyaneza will also be alone when transported to court.
He said the situation involved a 17-year-old inmate who authorities did not consider a threat.
"They believed, truly, that there was no risk to Mr. Munyaneza,'' he told the judge. "Obviously, that was not the case. I regret that.''
CTV Montreal's Maya Johnson said Sainte-Marie spent his time describing the new security measures "instead of clarifying how this all happened."
The 40-year-old accused was in court Monday with his eye still swollen and a deep gash on his nose.
Lawyer Laurence Cohen said the trial should only resume once his client is healthy again. The defence team is calling the incident an embarrassment to Canada's justice system.
Munyaneza's background
Munyaneza is a former Rwandan militia commander and now faces charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes related to the atrocities committed against millions of Rwandans in 1994.
He is accused of committing murder, psychological terror, physical attacks, and sexual violence against Tutsis.
Munyaneza fled Rwanda in 1997 for Canada, carrying a fake Cameroon passport.
He immediately claimed refugee status, saying he would be killed if sent back to Rwanda because he was a Hutu.
His claim was rejected three years later, largely on the testimony of an RCMP war crimes investigator who accused Munyaneza of being linked to the Rwandan massacre.
Munyaneza was living in Toronto when he was arrested by the RCMP in October 2005.
He was taken to Montreal, where he was arraigned day on seven counts of charges, all of which carry a life sentence. If convicted, he is expected to serve his sentence here.
A delegation of 17 people, including prosecutors, defence lawyers, and a judge, travelled to Rwanda in January for five weeks of hearings. They interviewed 14 witnesses who are unable to make it to Montreal for the trial.
Among the 20 witnesses expected to testify in Montreal, is Sen. Romeo Dallaire, who led the ill-fated United Nations mission during the Rwandan genocide.
Government of Canada figures show some 800 war criminals and human rights abusers currently live in Canada, the CCIJ said in a statement.
With files from The Canadian Press
