Ruto, Sang ICC trial adjourned for a week

A picture taken on September 10, 2013 shows Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto in the courtroom before his trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The trial has been adjourned for a week. PHOTO/AFP PHOTO 

In Summary

• The trial will resume in a week
• Prosecution has appealed against ruling to excuse Mr Ruto from attending trial

The International Criminal Court has adjourned for a week the hearing of witness 536 testimony in absence of Deputy President William Ruto.

The judges said they also decided to adjourn the case pending an appeal by the prosecution against their ruling to excuse Mr Ruto for trial to allow him attend to a terrorist attack in Nairobi.

"The Defence will file soon a request to the Appeals Chamber to lift the suspensive effect regarding the Prosecutor’s appeal of the decision excusing Mr Ruto from continuous presence at trial," Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said.

“The trial is adjourned pending either the Appeals Chamber’s decision on the Defence’s urgent request or the expiration of the one-week excusal period, whichever comes earlier."

Earlier Monday, the judges excused Mr Ruto from the trial proceedings for one week in light of the circumstances in Kenya.

The judges had ruled that the trial will proceed in Mr Ruto’s absence and allowed him to leave the courtroom immediately.

"In light of the circumstances and the views heard during the hearing, the Chamber excuses Mr Ruto from the proceedings. For the moment the excusal is permitted for one week only, subject to any further requests that Defence counsel may make if need be to extend it," Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said.

Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda filed an appeal to overturn the ruling.

The Deputy President is facing charges of crime against humanity alongside former radio journalist Joshua Sang.