Drama at the UN: one insane day

The Prosecution is presenting its last witness Romeo Dallaire this week( He was head of the UN mission to Rwanda during the genocide and one of the very few people to come out of the affair with any credit) However he was testifying via video conference which annoyed the defence. Dallaire has had severe psychological problems for years, but the defence aren't buying it. Monday at 1pm was the time he was scheduled to begin his testimony. I knew there would be drama which is why I took a lot of notes and wrote down the proceedings almost minute-by-minute. I was not disappointed:

13:18: Augustin Bizimungu's lawyer Ronald McDonald( with a name like that...) gets up and reveals that his client isnt in court today because he feels he is being screwed. By allowing Dallaire to testify via video-conference, he argues, he is being deprived of the right to confront his accuser. Bizimungu has decided to rectify this problem by temporarily suspending McDonald for the foreseeable future. Yes, to protest the supposed absence of a fair trial he has decided to suspend his lawyer. That should help him get a fairer trial wouldn't you say? The logic is impeccable. McDonald also makes references to his 'code of conduct' although we have seen preciously little of it in the past.
13:22: Judge lays a smackdown on McDonald- basically telling him his client doesn't run the proceedings. "The Court won't be governed by his whims" he says firmly.
13:23: Now Christopher Black gets up and everyone listens expectantly. You know you are going to get some form of drama with Black and within the first few seconds he is already delivering. He gives the same speech as McDonald- his client is also boycottnig the proceedings for now becuase the trial'is 'unfair'..yada, yada, yada. He delivers his speech with the kind of seriousness which makes me wonder if he is auditioning for Boston Legal. Black says his client is pissed off because he won't get the chance to confront Dallaire and- I quote- 'root out his lies'. Then he starts to attack the judges saying 'the judges have not hidden their bias against the defence' hello!
13:30- Yep, turns out Black is also suspended. No tears are being shed just yet.
13:32: Cire Ba our senior trial attorney makes a long overdue objection. What the hell is going on? Sort yourself out is the essence of it.
13:33: Judge finally showing some steel "I will run this court the way I see fit" He says defiantly. Fight? Looks like the claws are coming out all over the place. As my brother used to say 'saucer of milk for table two!'
13:35: Black says with a straight face that Dallaire assisted the RPF in shooting down Habyarimana's plane. One wonders when he decided to say goodbye to reality and instead moved house to a parallel universe.
13:36: Bombshell! Asks for the judges to recuse themselves. This basically means he is asking for them-two of them anyway- to step down. He has spared the woman claiming she hasnt shown any bias, but we've spotted her sleeping on many occasions. Apparently because the defence haven't always got their way, it proves the judges are biased.
13:39: Another bombshell! Turns out someone has directly threatened to kill him and his client. Shit, this thing has more twists than I baragined for! Then he suddenly starts shouting at our side because 'you are laughing about it and it's not funny' And when I say shouting I mean shouting- his face is red and he is screaming so loud you can't hear exactly what he is saying. (At this point Anne, the case manager is whispering that surely Black should be used to death threats by now?)The judge loses his temper and starts shouting at Black. It's the first time we've seen the judge like this. He's so pissed off, he's stammering. I wouldn't be lying when I say that at this point everyone has their respective jaws firmly on the floor. The people in the public gallery are already contemplating a quick dash downstairs to get some popcorn- it's that good.
13:42: The ever uninspiring Mr Segatwa (who represents the least important accused in this case- Innocent Sagahutu) gets up and proceeds to bore us thoroughly for the next few minutes. Turns out he hasn't been suspended like the other two. It's a bit of an anti-climax to all the drama we just saw. He expresses his 'deep concern' about the way things are going and calls for peace on earth and goodwill to all men.
13:45: I'm distracted by two blackbirds on the window. They are clearly making out.
13: 53: Now Mr Taku gets up. Turns out his client was merciful enough to keep him in the job and not only that- he is actually present in the courtroom.
13:59: The judges ask for five minutes to go and consider all this. They don't look too pleased.

15:35: The judges return- nearly two hours later. So much for five minutes. They give Black a serious ticking off warning him that if he pulls that stunt again, he'll be kicked out of the Tribunal. Death threats will be only one of his many problems from then on. They insist that since the clients have to have legal representation, they are going to force McDonald and Black back to their clients whether they like it or not.
15:44- Black gets up sounding a lot more restrained. he says if the Court forces him back to his client, he will be fired tomorrow. "I can sit here but I can't act" He says solemmly. Faria tells me he is actually a very good guy out of the Courtroom, but you wouldn't know it.
15:45; The judge makes a comment which amounts to 'whatever!'
15:57: Nearly three hours later than scheduled Romeo Dallaire is finally sworn in via video conference (the quality is not that hot) and begins his testimony.