The Ethiopian High Court sentenced Eshetu Shinkute...

The Ethiopian High Court sentenced Eshetu Shinkute Belete to publicly hang for his involvement in the extra-judicial executions of 27 people during the 1977-78 "Red Terror" period of Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam. Eshetu, described as a union leader in the country's main printing house during the time of the offences, was amongst those on trial for genocide and crimes against humanity during the "Red Terror". The tribunal found Eshetu guilty of direct involvement in the extra-judicial executions of 27 people suspected by the accused of being counter-revolutionaries opposing the then ruling Provisional Military Committee run by Colonel Mengistu between 1974 and 1991. The court sentence complied with the prosecution's request for the death sentence. The defendant was also found guilty of torturing two people and unjustly imprisoning 10 during the period in question.