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Alphons Orie, Chairman of the Trial Chamber with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, has scheduled a status conference at which Mladic’s Defence and the Hague Prosecution would have a chance to present any preliminary motions.
The decision says that, according to ICTY rules, a status conference has to be convened within 120 days of the initial appearance of the indictee before Tribunal judges. In Mladic’s case the first appearance took place on June 3 this year.
“Pursuant to the rules, any preliminary motions have to be presented no later than 30 days after the disclosure of evidence by the Prosecution. However, the 30-day time-limit shall not run until a permanent defence counsel has been assigned to the indictee,” The Hague Tribunal’s decision says.
The Hague Prosecution charges Mladic with genocide, crimes against humanity and the violation of the laws and customs of war in the period from 1992 to 1995.
Mladic was arrested in Serbia on May 26 and then transferred to The Hague.
During his initial appearance before the Tribunal judges, Mladic asked for an additional time to familiarise himself with the indictment. One month later, on July 4 he was ordered out of the courtroom after having interrupted the work of the Trial Chamber.
At that hearing judge Orie recorded a plea of not guilty to all counts contained in the indictment on behalf of Mladic.
During his two initial appearances Mladic was represented by temporary defence counsel Aleksandar Aleksic. However, at the hearing held on July 4 this year Mladic said that he wanted Milos Saljic, a Serbian attorney, and Aleksandar Mezyaev, a law professor from Russia, to represent him at this trial.
The Hague Tribunal is currently checking the qualifications of the two defence attorneys before it can render a decision concerning the appointment of permanent defence counsels.
D.Dz.
