The trial against Michael Sang Correa for torture allegedly committed in The Gambia, originally scheduled for 16 September 2024, has been postponed.

Last week, Correa’s defense lawyers filed two motions with the court. The motions explained that the defense wanted to present testimony from two witnesses to support the argument that Correa was under duress when he committed the acts of torture alleged in the indictment. According to the motions, the witnesses refused to travel to the United States unless the United States government provided them with immunity from prosecution. The United States declined to offer that immunity.

The first motion asked the court to dismiss the case against Correa, arguing that the government was not facilitating the attendance of these witnesses. On 10 September, the court denied the motion to dismiss the charges against him. The second motion asked the court to delay the trial to allow Correa’s attorneys to travel to The Gambia to record sworn testimony from the two witnesses.

On 11 September, the judge granted the second motion. She ruled that ensuring Correa the right to present witnesses for his defense was crucial to protecting his due process rights. Due process rights are guaranteed under international law and the United States Constitution: they provide reasonable opportunity for defendants such as Correa to defend themselves against criminal charges, allow for thorough examination of the facts, and contribute to a fair and just legal process.

The trial will be rescheduled to a date in 2025.