This Book is a result of a PhD thesis defended on 20 February 2020 at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. I am forever indebted to my promoter, Professor Caroline Fournet, for her years of guidance and support including during the time of publishing this book. It was her extremely understanding and unceasingly encouraging supervision that helped me continue working on the research even when the process took longer than planned.
I also wish to thank my second supervisor, Professor Alette Smeulers, whose insightful comments has greatly benefited this book. The inspiration to publish this book also came from comments and encouragements I received from Professor William Schabas, Professor Anja Matwijkiw, Professor Hein Wolswijk, Professor Marcel Brus, Professor Panos Merkouris, Professor Michael Bohlander, and Professor Harmen van der Wilt, members of the examining and cum laude committee of my PhD thesis.
Extended and multiple stays in Ethiopia and the Netherlands to carry out this research were made possible by generous funding from the University of Groningen’s Ubbo Emmius Scholarship and the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, the Civil Society Scholars Award of the Open Society Foundation, and Jimma University in Ethiopia. A special thank you to Professor Berend Keulen for making the initial arrangements for my research.
Too many friends encouraged and assisted me with various aspects of my research. Special gratitude is reserved for Dr. Fitsum Tiche. Blen Shimengus’s support merits special mention. I am also grateful to Dr. Abera Kaney, Solomon Awuraris, Feven Mekonnen, Abay Addis, Sineshaw Abate, Ermyas Admasu, Rahel Tassew, Wagari Negassa, Ayaantu Dereje, Muluken Getachew, Milkessa Chimdessa, Balewgize Seleshi, Abraham Wondimu, Dr. Wondwessen Melaku, Dr. Tekabe Legesse, and my uncle, Birhanu Legesse. I wish to thank my many colleagues at the University of Groningen, but particularly Suzanne Schot, Yves Sezirahiga, Professor Kai Lindenberg, Professor Ward Ferdinandusse, and Dr. Willem Geelhoed. Several of my colleagues at Jimma University understood the challenges of conducting research with intermittent access to the internet and frustrating data collection process. I am grateful to Seyoum Adugna, Kibrome Mekonnen, Azeb Belachew, and Dr. Adula Bekele, whose support helped me to focus on the research.
Financial support by Groningen Graduate School of Law enabled me to travel to all of the regional and federal courts that have tried the core crimes in Ethiopia. Nonetheless, I could not have accessed the unpublished judicial decisions without the help of Belay Gezahegn and Bisrat Mulugeta from Hawassa,
To complement the process of data collection, I have set up a website, the Ethiopian Criminal Law Network,
I would be surprised if I find the right words to express, even remotely, my love and respect for my Mom and Dad, and my siblings: Mesi, Demoz, Alex, and Asu. Their endless love and unfailing support is matchless.