The International Criminal Court is now in session.

So, good afternoon to everybody.

We are gathering today in this courtroom on the status conference of the pretrial chamber one

in the case of the prosecutor against Mr.

Jasper Rhodes, the situation of Raspia.

In the decisions of 29th November 2024 and 3rd February 2025

the chamber agreed that three following issues

will be addressed in today's status conference.

The first one

what are conditions of an absentia hearing are met.

The second question, whether Mr.

Rhodes' previous conviction in Raspia for the crime of hate speech

renders the case inadmissible before the ICC and renders any prosecution before the ICC

a violation of the Nabes Unidem principle.

And the third issue, whether there are substantial grounds to believe that Mr.

Rhodes is criminally liable

for the crime of direct and public incitement to commit genocide.

Now

before I give the floor to the parties

please introduce yourself for the record

and inform the chamber how you are going to relocate your time between speakers.

I remind you that each team has 25 minutes to present the case and then five minutes for the rebuttals.

We will start with the prosecutor team. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Your Excellencies

may it please this honorable court

good evening.

My name is Michael Mshomba.

It is an honor to appear before you today as the first counsel for the prosecution.

With me, my colleague and friend, Tracy Jerob.

I shall take 10 minutes to address the second merit on admissibility.

My colleague, Ms.

Tracy, will then step in for 15 minutes, address the first and the third merits.

We respectfully reserve five minutes for rebuttals. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

And now I please the defense.

Mr. President, Your Excellency, and may it please the court.

It is an honor to represent the defense for Mr.

Jasper Rhodes before your honorable court today.

I am Vaghi Shamanlal, representing the first counsel from the side of defense.

I'll address the bench with the first and the second issues as per the case record for the initial 15 minutes.

My co-counsel, Mr.

Ayush Mishra, would address the bench with the third issue for the rest 10 minutes.

And we reserve five minutes for rebuttals.

Thank you very much.

We can start, please.

Defense, sorry, prosecution counsel, take the floor.

Thank you.

Presiding judge

Your Excellencies