Rwandan court expected to rule Thursday on whether to release Minn. law professor

Rwandan court to rule Thursday on jailed US lawyer

MINNEAPOLIS — Relatives of a Minnesota law professor jailed in Rwanda says a judge is expected to rule Thursday whether he should be freed on bail for health reasons.

Peter Erlinder is accused of violating Rwanda’s laws against minimizing that country’s 1994 genocide. Erlinder doesn’t deny mass violence happened but contends it’s inaccurate to blame one side.

The Star Tribune of Minneapolis reports that Erlinder acknowledged during a Monday hearing in Rwanda that he attempted suicide by overdosing in jail earlier this month.

He told the court he had a breakdown, according to audio recordings obtained by the newspaper.

Erlinder’s family had said they didn’t believe Rwandan government claims about the suicide attempt. But his daughter says the recordings seem to confirm it happened.