Print edition: 
WICHITA — U.S. Senior District Judge Monti Belot this morning swore in the jury in the trial of a man accused of participating in the genocide in Rwanda two decades ago.
Larzare Kobagaya, 84, is charged in federal court with lying on citizenship forms when he arrived in Wichita six years ago.
"More than any other case I've seen recently, your principle duty is going to be to listen to the witnesses and weigh their testimony," Belot told the jury. "There are not going to be a lot of documents. Most of what you'll need to decide the case will come right from the courtroom."
Lawyers are set to summarize their cases in opening statements to the jury later this morning.
The trial is expected to last eight to 10 weeks and include some 50 witnesses on both sides.
Belot also told the jury to expect many witnesses from Africa, few of whom speak English and whose testimony will come through interpreters. Belot said many may appear uncomfortable testifying in a strange country and surroundings.
Prosecutors say Kobagaya stated on immigration papers in 2005 and 2006 that he lived in Burundi, a neighboring nation, in 1994. But he actually ordered the slaughter of people in the Nyakizu region of southern Rwanda, the government claims
The charges stem from ethnic attacks in which an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 people were killed from April to July 1994. Members of the Hutu ethnic group slaughtered those of Tutsi heritage.
The U.S. has no criminal jurisdiction over crimes committed abroad, but it can prosecute someone for lying on a naturalization form.
That form specifically asks applicants whether they have participated in genocide.
Prosecutors say Kobagaya, who is a Hutu, lied on immigration and citizenship documents in 2005 and 2006. He also checked a box saying he had not participated in genocide.
As a result, the government says, he illegally obtained American citizenship.
