Danish prosecutors are seeking a 20-year prison sentence for 57-year-old Wenceslas Twagirayezu, who was convicted in Rwanda for his involvement in the 1994 genocide. The prosecution argues that Twagirayezu’s participation in incidents leading to the deaths of thousands of ethnic Tutsis warrants the maximum penalty allowed under Danish law for such cases.

The case, being heard in Hillerød, involves translating a Rwandan court’s judgment into Danish law, enabling Twagirayezu to serve his sentence in Denmark. Special Prosecutor André Pape emphasized the severity of the crimes during Monday’s court hearing.

Twagirayezu, now a Danish citizen residing in Smørumnedre, was extradited to Rwanda in 2018 on suspicion of participating in the genocide. The Rwandan authorities pursued him in connection with the extensive legal proceedings following the 1994 ethnic conflict.

The conflict erupted after the assassination of Rwanda’s president, a member of the Hutu ethnic group, triggering a bloody ethnic clash. Twagirayezu, a former schoolteacher in Rwanda, has consistently denied any involvement in the genocide.

Initially, a Rwandan first instance court acquitted him in January due to inconsistent witness testimonies. However, an appeals court overturned the decision in July of the previous year, sentencing him to 20 years in prison. The Danish prosecution believes this sentence should be upheld in Denmark.

His lawyer, Eddie Khawaja, argues that the court should dismiss the case, as the question of guilt cannot be reassessed. Alternatively, if the court proceeds with sentencing, Khawaja requests a reduced sentence of 12 years.

Twagirayezu has already spent approximately eight years in custody and will remain detained until the verdict. The Court in Hillerød is scheduled to deliver its verdict on June 10 at 4:30 PM.