[JURIST] Joseph Nzabirinda [ICTY case file], a Rwandan businessman charged in connection with the 1994 Rwandan genocide, pleaded guilty to murder as a crime against humanity [press release] Thursday at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda [official website]. Nzabirinda was initially charged [indictment, PDF] with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, extermination as a crime against humanity and rape as a crime against humanity. Prosecutors amended the indictment to the single murder as a crime against humanity charge before Nzabirinda entered his plea.

Nzabirinda was accused of participating in meetings with the Interahamwe militia where militia members discussed their plan to execute Tutsis. The ICTR will hold a sentencing hearing for Nzabirinda next month. The UN News Service has more.