ICC prosecutor: No issue with video testimony of witnesses

MANILA, Philippines — The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) does not foresee any issue with the audio-video link (AVL) setup for some of the witnesses who will testify against former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Acting prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang said this in response to the directive of the Trial Chamber III for the prosecution to address certain issues related to witnesses who would testify using AVL technology.

“The prosecution does not currently foresee any issues with respect to AVL testimony,” read Niang’s three page filing dated Nov. 6.

The filing also included a confidential annex containing the prosecution’s updated list of witnesses, as well as the number of those who will testify via AVL.

“The prosecution has marked which witnesses it anticipates may testify via AVL in the Updated List of Witnesses and has updated the anticipated calling order,” the prosecution told the judges.

“The prosecution will update the Chamber, parties and participants should circumstances allow these witnesses to testify in person,” it added.

The final number of prosecution witnesses has yet to be released.

During the case’s first status conference in May, ICC senior trial lawyer Julian Nicholls said as many as 70 witnesses may be presented against Duterte during his trial.

These include 31 insider witnesses, 17 crime-base witnesses and 12 witnesses “who are relevant to explain the background and the contextual elements of the crimes charged.”

The prosecutor intends to call 25 to 30 of these witnesses to give viva voce or verbal testimony during the trial.