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| Haiti's 'Baby Doc' Duvalier bids to avoid court | Haiti's 'Baby Doc' Duvalier bids to avoid court |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Haiti's former ruler has filed a last-minute appeal with the Supreme Court to avoid appearing in court on allegations of crimes against humanity. | Haiti's former ruler has filed a last-minute appeal with the Supreme Court to avoid appearing in court on allegations of crimes against humanity. |
| Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier is due to attend a hearing in the capital, Port-au Prince, on Thursday afternoon or face arrest. | Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier is due to attend a hearing in the capital, Port-au Prince, on Thursday afternoon or face arrest. |
| The ex-leader, who returned to Haiti in 2011 after 25 years in French exile, has already missed two hearings. | The ex-leader, who returned to Haiti in 2011 after 25 years in French exile, has already missed two hearings. |
| He denies all charges, with his lawyers saying the case should be thrown out. | |
| Mr Duvalier's chief counsel, Reynold Georges, earlier told journalists that the ex-president would not attend Thursday's hearing. | |
| Human rights groups say hundreds of political prisoners died from torture or were murdered under Mr Duvalier's rule from 1971 to 1986. | Human rights groups say hundreds of political prisoners died from torture or were murdered under Mr Duvalier's rule from 1971 to 1986. |
| His unexpected homecoming two years ago prompted the Haitian authorities to open an investigation. | His unexpected homecoming two years ago prompted the Haitian authorities to open an investigation. |
| In January 2012, a court decided Mr Duvalier 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. | In January 2012, a court decided Mr Duvalier 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. |
| However, Amnesty International and the Open Society Justice Initiative said the former leader "must not evade justice" for crimes against humanity. | However, Amnesty International and the Open Society Justice Initiative said the former leader "must not evade justice" for crimes against humanity. |
| 'Dictator' gibe | 'Dictator' gibe |
| On Thursday, the court in Port-au-Prince is due to hear an appeal by victims challenging the January 2012 ruling. | On Thursday, the court in Port-au-Prince is due to hear an appeal by victims challenging the January 2012 ruling. |
| It would be the first time that Mr Duvalier would come face to face with his victims in a court, the BBC's Mark Doyle reports. | It would be the first time that Mr Duvalier would come face to face with his victims in a court, the BBC's Mark Doyle reports. |
| If Baby Doc is tried, it would be a symbolically crucial moment and a potential turning point for Haiti, our correspondent says. | If Baby Doc is tried, it would be a symbolically crucial moment and a potential turning point for Haiti, our correspondent says. |
| There is a widespread feeling in the country that the judiciary is biased in favour of the rich, he adds. | There is a widespread feeling in the country that the judiciary is biased in favour of the rich, he adds. |
| The appeal court already ordered Mr Duvalier twice to appear to answer the charges - once on 31 January and again on 7 February. | The appeal court already ordered Mr Duvalier twice to appear to answer the charges - once on 31 January and again on 7 February. |
| A judge ruled the ex-leader would be arrested if he did not turn up on Thursday. | A judge ruled the ex-leader would be arrested if he did not turn up on Thursday. |
| Responding to Mr Duvalier's last-minute appeal, a lawyer representing some of the alleged victims said: "Duvalier is trying to control the justice system like he did when he was a dictator." | Responding to Mr Duvalier's last-minute appeal, a lawyer representing some of the alleged victims said: "Duvalier is trying to control the justice system like he did when he was a dictator." |
| Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are observing the case in the capital. | Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are observing the case in the capital. |
| 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. |