The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) on October 16 began the last hearing before giving out its verdict on former Khmer Rouge officials tried on the charge of genocide.

The accused are Nuon Chea, 87, and Khieu Samphan, 82. Another defendant is Ieng Sary, who died in March at the age of 87, while the trial of Ieng Sary’s wife (Ieng Thirith) has been cancelled due to the defendant’s health problem.

Under the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-1979, more than 2 million Cambodians died from starvation, hard labour and execution.

Prosecutors’ indictment and statements of lawyers representing the victims as well as the defendants’ statement will be heard during the hearing which is scheduled to conclude on October 31.

The court is expected to give out the sentence in early 2014. However, observers have expressed concerns over the trial’s pace as well as the advanced age of the defendants.

Earlier, the tribunal had been delayed many times due to the lack of fund and the defendants’ health-related problems.

In August, the European Union, one of ECCC’s major sponsors, announced to fund an additional 4 million USD to help resume the trial.

After nearly eight years, ECCC has just reached a life sentence for one defendant, Kaing Guek Eav, known by the alias ‘Duch’, former director of Toul Sleng prison, on the charges of committing war crime and crime against humanity causing the death of over 15,000 people.-VNA