Appeal trial begins for ex-Khmer Rouge leader

The U.N.-backed Khmer Rouge Supreme Court began an appeal trial on Monday for the last surviving leader of the fallen regime.

Khieu Samphan, who is now 90, is a former Khmer Rouge president.

He was sentenced to life in prison for genocide and various crimes against humanity.

His defence team have argued the verdict failed to provide sufficient reasoning.

Here’s the court’s chief judge, Kong Srim.

"Today is the first day of the appeal trial of the accused person Khieu Samphan. This appeal was made by the accused person Khieu Samphan against his verdict from the lower court, on case 002/02 dated from 16 November 2018, and later issued on 28 May 2019."

Villagers from a nearby province say they traveled here to know about the truth of what happened.

Close to 1.8 million people were killed during the Khmer Rouge's 1975-1979 rule of Cambodia.

Most died of starvation, torture, exhaustion or disease in labour camps,

or were bludgeoned to death during mass executions.

Guilty verdicts have so far been reached against three former top members of the regime,

but several have died while on trial or before indictments were made.

Samphan has expressed regret over the years,

but has maintained that he was only a figurehead and knew nothing about the atrocities committed.

His defense lawyer said that he plans to speak, but that he will wait until the last day of this week.