be released. (See paragraph 2 (c) of ACHPR/Res. 4(XI) 92: Resolution on the
Right to Appeal and Fair Trial (1992)).
192. In order to give effect to the notion of “reasonable time”, this Court in
the case of AMOUZOU HENRI ET 5 AUTRES v. REPUBLIC DE CÔTE D'
IVOIRE, Judgment no. ECW/CCJ/JUD/04/09, LRCCJ (2009) § 93 stressed
that international courts competent in the application of international human
rights instruments consider that the “reasonable time” for holding the trial of
detainees should be determined according to: the merits of each case, the
specificity of the procedure, the degree of complexity and nature of the
offence, the difficulty in the investigation and the number of persons
involved.
193. It further reiterated in the cited case MR. IBRAHIM SORY TOURÉ
AND MRISSIAGA BANGOURA v. THE REPUBLIC OF GUINEA, §108, that
what is reasonable must be assessed in the circumstances of each case,
considering primarily the complexity of the case, the conduct of the accused
and the manner in which the matter was handled by the administrative and
judicial authorities.
194. In the same vein, see also Human Rights Committee, Communication
No. 818/1998, SEXTUS v. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, §7.2,in relation to a
22-month delay between the indictment of the accused of a crime with death
penalty and the commencement of the trial without specific circumstances
justifying the delay; Communication No. 938/2000, SIEWPERSAUD,
SUKHRAM, AND PERSAUD v. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO § 6.2 in relation
to the total length of criminal proceedings of almost five years, in the absence
of any explanation from the State party justifying the delay.
195. On the question of the reasonableness of the length of proceedings,
whether civil or criminal, the European Court, equally and consistently holds
that: “the particularities of the case must be taken into consideration, based
on the criteria determined in the Court's precedents, in particular the
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