In a brief open session at the Khmer Rouge tribunal yesterday, judges heard arguments about the admissibility of certain documents pertaining to forced marriage, among them thousands of transcribed interviews.

Defence teams for Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea requested the additional documents on the grounds that they would help to contextualise the charge of forced marriage and would support the testimony of an upcoming expert witness, listed as 2-TCE-82.

The two defendants, both former leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime, are on trial for crimes against humanity and genocide. The tribunal has recently heard testimony related to the charge of forced marriage.

Among the documents the defence teams asked to be admitted were 2,200 interviews, many of them in Khmer.

Deputy co-prosecutor William Smith argued that the defence’s request was untimely and unreasonable.

Between the need to analyse the documents, translate the interviews and redact sensitive information, Smith said, it would not be possible to prepare in time for the relevant testimony.

The court has not yet ruled on the application.

Also yesterday, lawyers for the civil parties told the court they would appeal its decision not to hear rape accusations outside of the context of forced marriage.

The tribunal then went into a closed session in order to hear testimony from witness 2-TCW-1005. The session was closed due to the witness’s role in ongoing investigations.