The case of lawyer Paul Guicheru, who died on September 26, has been closed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands.
According to an ICC statement dated Friday, October 14, the decision was made after the lawyer’s death was confirmed.
The international court in The Hague revealed that the government communicated the news of the lawyer’s death.
“Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court (ICC) terminated proceedings against former Kenyan lawyer Paul Gicheru following the confirmation of his passing. According to the ICC legal framework, the Court’s jurisdiction cannot be exercised over a deceased person.Â
“On October 13, 2022, the ICC Registry filed an official communication from the Republic of Kenya in which it confirms the death of the accused. The Chamber considers this sufficient proof to establish the death of the accused,” read the statement in part.
The ICC statement came a week after the lawyer was laid to rest at his home in Nakuru County.
During the burial, the family revealed that they would petition the court to have the case dismissed because he had died.
Gicheru was facing witness tampering charges in the 2007 post-election violence cases.
In February 2022, his trial began with eight witnesses testifying against him. Gicheru maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty throughout the proceedings.
The lawyer died before the court could decide whether he was acquitted or convicted. The ICC revealed in a statement that the deliberations were still ongoing at the time of the lawyer’s death in September.
Gicheru was found dead at his Karen home on September 26 with foam in his mouth, raising suspicions of poisoning.
However, family lawyer Senior Counsel John Khaminwa reiterated that the autopsy last month ruled out poisoning.
