International judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have barred the use of recanted testimony in the case of Kenya’s deputy president, William Ruto.
ICC dismisses witness testimony against Kenya's Deputy President, William Ruto
This means that prior recorded witness statements cannot be used by prosecutors at the ICC in this case.
The latest ruling overturns a previous decision by judges to allow five of the witnesses’ original statements to be included because they were convinced the witnesses had been interfered with.
Ruto’s lawyers are now expected to reprise their argument that, without the testimony of those witnesses linking Ruto to the violence, the case against him is no longer valid.
However, there was no immediate response form the prosecution.
Ruto,who is being tried over unrest that followed 2007 elections, denies charges of crimes against humanity.
He is expected to run again in elections next year and possibly stand for the top job in 2022.
There have been widespread allegations of witness intimidation in the Kenya cases. ICC prosecutors have so far charged three Kenyans for offences against the administration of justice.