Guinea stadium massacre victims find peace after 15 years
This article includes accounts of rape and physical assault
Lawyers for Guinea's former junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara said they would appeal his conviction for crimes against humanity over mass killings and rapes at a September 2009 political rally at a stadium in Conakry, the capital of the West African nation.
A court in Guinea sentenced Camara to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity earlier this week.
Several other former military commanders were also found guilty of crimes against humanity and handed life sentences. Four defendants were found not guilty.
Just moments after Wednesday's sentencing, survivors and victims' loved ones expressed their satisfaction with the sentence.
"The defendants were given sentences that we consider acceptable," Me Alpha Amadou DS Bah, one of the victims' lawyers, said at a press briefing.
"Because the crimes were heinous, many people lost their lives, some are suffering in their flesh and soul for having been defiled at the stadium, and there are people we have not found, unfortunately."
Several other former military commanders were handed life sentences, while four defendants were found not guilty. The court also ordered compensation to be paid to the victims, running from 200 million to 1.5 billion Guinean francs........
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