Jury deliberations resume in genocide trial

WICHITA, Kan. – A federal jury is deciding whether a Kansas man lied to U.S. immigration officials about his alleged involvement in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Lazare Kobagaya is facing two federal charges in a case that hinges on whether jurors believe the 84-year-old Topeka man ordered others to commit atrocities in Rwanda, and therefore lied to immigration authorities.

Jurors resumed their deliberations Thursday.

More than 500,000 people were killed in Rwanda during 100 days of violence that began in April 1994.

Prosecutors noted testimony from witnesses who said Kobagaya ordered homes burned and people killed. But defense attorneys recounted testimony from witnesses who said Rwandan prosecutors brought a list of people to a prison who they wanted accused of genocide.