Former Canada prosecutor tapped to head UN Hariri investigation News
Former Canada prosecutor tapped to head UN Hariri investigation

[JURIST] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website] has nominated former Canadian Deputy Attorney General Daniel Bellemare [Ya Libnan profile] to serve as the commissioner of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) [authorizing resolution; UN materials], a UN spokesperson said Tuesday. If approved, Bellemare will head the UN investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri [JURIST news archive]. He will replace Serge Brammertz [official profile], whom Ban nominated Tuesday to replace Carla Del Ponte [official profile] as the next chief prosecutor [JURIST report] for the International Criminal Tribunal of the former Yugoslavia. Reuters has more. The UN News Centre has additional coverage.

The UN Security Council unilaterally established a tribunal [JURIST report] in May to investigate and try suspects in the Hariri case as well as in 17 other attempted and successful political assassinations in Lebanon. The tribunal will eventually take over the commission's work.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.