Court suspends ex-Chad dictator trial to ready new lawyers

Security personnel surround former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre inside the court, in Dakar, Senegal, Monday, July 20, 2015, The trial of former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre accused of overseeing the deaths of thousands had a chaotic beginning Monday as security forces ushered the ex-leader into and then out of the Senegal courtroom amid protests by his supporters. (AP Photo/Ibrahima Ndiaye) Security personnel surround former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre inside the court, in Dakar, Senegal, Monday, July 20, 2015, The trial of former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre accused of overseeing the deaths of thousands had a chaotic beginning Monday as security forces ushered the ex-leader into and then out of the Senegal courtroom amid protests by his supporters. (AP Photo/Ibrahima Ndiaye)

By Associated Press July 21, 2015 2 min read

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) – The trial of Chad’s ex-dictator Hissene Habre was suspended on Tuesday until September to allow court-appointed lawyers to prepare his defense.

The Extraordinary African Chambers, established by Senegal and the African Union, is trying the former leader of Chad for crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture, in an unprecedented case of one African country prosecuting the former ruler of another.

Habre on Tuesday refused representation but Attorney General Mbacke Fall said Habre must accept lawyers appointed by the judge, since he refused to be represented by his own.

Three Senegalese lawyers were appointed by the court to represent Habre and they were given until Sept. 7 to prepare the defense.

“The appointed lawyers have a duty to defend Habre. Even if the accused refuses to collaborate with the appointed lawyers for him, the procedure will continue,” said Judge Gberdao Gustave Kam.