Former Junta Leader Guilty in 2009 Guinea Stadium Massacre

A court in Guinea has found former junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara and seven other military commanders guilty of crimes against humanity for their roles in a 2009 stadium massacre. Charges included murder, rape, and torture. Camara, 60, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

A court in Guinea on Wednesday found former junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara and seven other accused military commanders guilty of crimes against humanity in a 2009 stadium massacre trial.

Their charges, which included murder, rape, torture, and kidnapping, were reclassified to crimes against humanity, according to the court. Four other accused were found not guilty.

Camara, 60, was the ruler of Guinea when more than 150 people were killed during a pro-democracy rally on Sept. 28, 2009. Camara, who, like the other accused, had denied the charges and pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the judge.

Tens of thousands of people had gathered at a stadium in Conakry to press him not to stand in a presidential election the following year. Many were shot, stabbed, beaten, or crushed in a stampede as security forces fired teargas and charged the stadium. An unknown number of women were also raped, according to human rights groups and survivors.

(With inputs from agencies.)