Cross-cultural communication in the courtroom: a case study of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

Purpose This study aims to examine cross-cultural dynamics between legal professionals and witnesses during testimony provided at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a thematic analysis using transcripts from four different types of witnesses (overview, crime-base, expert and insider) across 13 cases, comprising 13,755 pages of transcripts in total. Findings The analysis revealed more cross-cultural challenges in witness responses than in questioning by attorneys. The authors also found that defense attorneys used closed questions more frequently, while prosecution attorneys preferred open-ended questions. Originality/value This is the first empirical study to examine question and answer dynamics within witness transcripts from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda while focusing on potential cultural differences. The findings stress the importance of cultural sensitivity in questioning of witnesses by legal professionals.