LONDON, United Kingdom – A Rwandan doctor appeared in a London court Tuesday accused of directing and inciting killings during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, becoming the first person to face genocide-related charges in the United Kingdom over the massacre.
Dr. Vincent Brown, 65, formerly known as Vincent Bajinya, faces one charge of conduct ancillary to genocide and six charges of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity under Britain’s International Criminal Court Act 2001.
The charges concern alleged acts in Kigali during the first week of the genocide in April 1994. Brown denies involvement and has not entered a plea.
Allegations heard in court
Prosecutor Jane Stansfield told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Brown was a leader or supervisor of violence carried out by others while he was head of the Department of Family Health at Rwanda’s National Office of Population.
The prosecution alleges that Brown led a group to a house in Kigali’s Rugenge district on April 8, 1994, where three people — Dominique Mukurarinda, Immaculee Mukankusi and Gerase Rurangirwa — were allegedly shot.
Prosecutors further allege that Brown directed the killing of taxi driver Leandre Mbogoye, who was allegedly stoned to death between April 9 and 11.
On April 10, prosecutors allege, Brown ordered the killings of Charlotte Kamaguja and her infant son, Olivier Tuyishime.
The six murder-related charges are framed in British law as conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity. The separate genocide charge concerns alleged conduct connected to the broader genocide against the Tutsi.
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Brown denies involvement
Brown denied taking part in the killings when questioned by police, according to prosecutors.
His defense lawyer, Sam Blom-Cooper, told the court that Brown wanted the opportunity to clear his name.
Brown’s other lawyer, Frank Brazell, said his client has consistently maintained his innocence and characterized the evidence against him as fabricated. Brown has said he wants to be tried in Britain, where he believes he will receive a fair trial.
Brown spoke only to confirm his identity, date of birth and address during Tuesday’s hearing. He did not enter a plea.
The Crown Prosecution Service has stressed that the proceedings are active and that Brown has the right to a fair trial. The CPS said its decision to prosecute followed a review of evidence submitted by the Metropolitan Police War Crimes Team.
Seven-year British investigation
The case follows a Metropolitan Police investigation that began in September 2019 after a request from the Rwandan government.
British war-crimes investigators examined allegations concerning killings in the Rugenge district of Kigali and worked with international partners during the investigation.
The Metropolitan Police said six other people remain under investigation in Britain in connection with alleged offences related to the Rwandan genocide. Two of those individuals were arrested in 2024 and 2026 on suspicion of genocide and crimes against humanity and remain on bail, according to police.
The case is the first prosecution brought in Britain involving the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, according to the CPS.
Brown’s history in Britain
Brown is originally from Kigali and now lives in Islington, north London.
He entered Britain as an asylum seeker in 1998 and later worked for a London-based charity that helped refugee nurses and midwives seeking to work in the United Kingdom.
He changed his name from Vincent Bajinya to Vincent Brown after obtaining British citizenship in 2004, according to earlier legal records cited in reporting on the case.
The allegations concern events that occurred more than three decades before the current prosecution.
British law permits the prosecution of certain international crimes, including genocide and crimes against humanity, regardless of where the alleged offences occurred. The charges in Brown’s case were brought under the International Criminal Court Act 2001.
Next court appearance
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted Brown conditional bail after Tuesday’s hearing, with a £25,000 security requirement and conditions including surrendering his passport.
The case was transferred to London’s Central Criminal Court, commonly known as the Old Bailey, where Brown is scheduled to appear on October 9.
Prosecutors indicated they intended to challenge the bail decision, meaning the immediate custody arrangements remained subject to further proceedings.
The prosecution will ultimately have to establish the allegations against Brown through the criminal process. The charges themselves are not findings of guilt.
The case represents Britain’s first prosecution arising from the 1994 Rwandan genocide and comes more than 30 years after the killings.
Reporting Credit: Crown Prosecution Service — charges, legal basis and prosecution decision; Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Policing War Crimes Team — seven-year investigation and ongoing investigations; Westminster Magistrates’ Court — September 22, 2026 hearing and procedural developments.
