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| Jean-Claude Duvalier fails to attend Haiti rights trial | Jean-Claude Duvalier fails to attend Haiti rights trial |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The former ruler of Haiti Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier has failed to attend a hearing in Port-au-Prince on allegations of crimes against humanity. | The former ruler of Haiti Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier has failed to attend a hearing in Port-au-Prince on allegations of crimes against humanity. |
| His lawyer called it "careless" for the court to schedule the appeal audience on 7 February – the 27th anniversary of Mr Duvalier's flight into exile. | His lawyer called it "careless" for the court to schedule the appeal audience on 7 February – the 27th anniversary of Mr Duvalier's flight into exile. |
| A judge agreed to postpone the former ruler's appearance to 21 February, and has not punished him for his absence. | A judge agreed to postpone the former ruler's appearance to 21 February, and has not punished him for his absence. |
| This was the second time Mr Duvalier failed to appear at a court hearing. | This was the second time Mr Duvalier failed to appear at a court hearing. |
| Earlier, international human rights groups urged authorities not to drop the case against Mr Duvalier. | |
| A number of activists, students and relatives of victims gathered outside the court, expecting the former ruler's appearance. | A number of activists, students and relatives of victims gathered outside the court, expecting the former ruler's appearance. |
| One of Mr Duvalier's lawyers says the case should be thrown out. | One of Mr Duvalier's lawyers says the case should be thrown out. |
| "Duvalier has been trialled in France, in Haiti and in Switzerland. He can't be trialled once again," Frizto Canton told AFP news agency. | "Duvalier has been trialled in France, in Haiti and in Switzerland. He can't be trialled once again," Frizto Canton told AFP news agency. |
| However, Amnesty International and the Open Society Justice Initiative said Mr Duvalier "must not evade justice" for alleged crimes against humanity. | However, Amnesty International and the Open Society Justice Initiative said Mr Duvalier "must not evade justice" for alleged crimes against humanity. |
| In January 2012, a court ruled that the alleged abuses had expired under Haiti's statute of limitations. | In January 2012, a court ruled that the alleged abuses had expired under Haiti's statute of limitations. |
| Mr Duvalier unexpectedly returned to Haiti in 2011 after 25 years in exile, prompting the Haitian authorities to open an investigation into crimes allegedly committed during his 1971-86 rule. | Mr Duvalier unexpectedly returned to Haiti in 2011 after 25 years in exile, prompting the Haitian authorities to open an investigation into crimes allegedly committed during his 1971-86 rule. |
| Embezzling, murder, torture | Embezzling, murder, torture |
| He denies all the accusations against him. | He denies all the accusations against him. |
| A judge decided that he should stand trial for embezzling public funds but ruled that the statute of limitations had run out on charges of murder, arbitrary arrest, torture and disappearances. | A judge decided that he should stand trial for embezzling public funds but ruled that the statute of limitations had run out on charges of murder, arbitrary arrest, torture and disappearances. |
| Alleged victims and their relatives have appealed against this ruling. | Alleged victims and their relatives have appealed against this ruling. |
| A first hearing was postponed when Mr Duvalier failed to appear in court on 31 January. | A first hearing was postponed when Mr Duvalier failed to appear in court on 31 January. |
| He was then ordered to attend Thursday's hearing, but was absent again. | He was then ordered to attend Thursday's hearing, but was absent again. |
| International law requires that he should stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity, the Open Society Justice Initiative said. | International law requires that he should stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity, the Open Society Justice Initiative said. |
| Amnesty International has also argued that such crimes are not subject to a statute of limitations. | Amnesty International has also argued that such crimes are not subject to a statute of limitations. |
| "With the case of Jean-Claude Duvalier, it is the whole credibility of the Haitian justice system which is at stake," Amnesty said. | "With the case of Jean-Claude Duvalier, it is the whole credibility of the Haitian justice system which is at stake," Amnesty said. |
| Jean-Claude Duvalier was just 19 when he inherited the title of president-for-life from his father, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, who had ruled Haiti since 1957. | Jean-Claude Duvalier was just 19 when he inherited the title of president-for-life from his father, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, who had ruled Haiti since 1957. |
| Like his father, he relied on a brutal militia known as the Tontons Macoutes to control the country. | Like his father, he relied on a brutal militia known as the Tontons Macoutes to control the country. |
| In 1986 he was forced from power by a popular uprising and US diplomatic pressure, and went into exile in France. | In 1986 he was forced from power by a popular uprising and US diplomatic pressure, and went into exile in France. |