Haiti’s ‘Baby Doc’ attends court

After avoiding appearance in court previously, Haiti’s former ruler Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier finally came and denied responsibility for abuses he allegedly committed as president between 1971 and 1986. The hearing will determine if he can be charged with crimes against humanity, as human rights groups have accused him of being behind the torture and murder of political prisoners during his rule. He returned to Haiti in 2011 after 25 years of exile in France. He told the hearing he had limited power over government officials who “had their own authority.” Three judges sitting on the panel must decide whether Duvalier should face trial. As president, he relied on a brutal militia known as the Tontons Macoutes, to control the country. He was ousted in 1986 by a popular uprising, rendering useless the title of “president for life,” which he inherited from his father, Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier.

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