The Public Prosecution versus Hisséne Habré: Summary of the fifth hearing held on 9 September 2015

At the start of proceedings at 9:15 am, the presiding judge performed the customary check
verifying that all parties concerned were present. Having noted no changes, he was prepared to
continue with the proceedings when one of the lawyers for the defence requested to speak in order
to highlight an issue regarding the defendant’s access to the floor. The judge asked the defence to
make a formal request in this regard, whereupon the civil party also requested the floor in order to
reiterate the reservations they had made at the previous day’s hearing and had registered with the
clerk. The presiding judge asked the defendant to disclose his identity, to which the defendant
remained silent and indifferent. Taking due note, the judge inferred a refusal on the part of the
defendant for legal representation. In the light of the absence of the two expert witnesses called
by the prosecution the presiding judge instructed the Public Prosecutor to take all steps necessary
to ensure that, in future, witnesses are present in the courtroom when they have been summoned.
Further, the presiding judge approved the prosecution’s request to play a radiophonic broadcast
(African archives) on the personality and career of the defendant. At the end of this broadcast, the
presiding judge called expert witness Arnaud Dingammadji to the stand