Defence at UN Khmer Rouge Tribunal

GD partners Richard Rogers and Alexandre Prezanti have been representing defendants before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (or Khmer Rouge Tribunal) since 2006. 

The Khmer Rouge Tribunal was set up as a hybrid international court to bring to justice the surviving senior leaders and those most responsible for international crimes during the Khmer Rouge regime. The Khmer Rouge regime took power on 17 April 1975 and was overthrown on 7 January 1979. At least 1.7 million people are believed to have died from starvation, torture, execution and forced labour during this period of 3 years, 8 months and 20 days.

Rogers helped to set up the Defence Office at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, which provides legal aid to all defendants before the UN-assisted court. From 2007 to 2010, Rogers served as Principle Defender at the tribunal, providing substantive and administrative support to all defence teams.

In 2009, Prezanti joined the Kaing Guek Eav alias Duch defence team – first international criminal trial in Cambodia. In 2010, Prezanti joined the Defence Office as acting deputy to the Principle Defender. 

From 2012, Rogers and Prezanti have been representing AO An – a defendant in Case 004/02 charged with genocide and crimes against humanity.