Karadzic: Defence to start Presenting Evidence in October

The Trial Chamber’s decision says that the last Hague Prosecution witness will be examined in the first week of May and that, by then, the Prosecutor should make a statement regarding the potential additional evidence.

The indictment alleges that Karadzic, former President and Supreme Commander of Republika Srpska armed forces, is charged with genocide in Srebrenica, persecution of the Bosniak and Croatian population throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, terror against civilians in Sarajevo and taking UNPROFOR soldiers hostage.

Taking into consideration both the Tribunal’s Statute and practices, as well as the scope of the indictment, which covers four separate joint criminal enterprises and the period of four years, as well as 114 incidents in 20 municipalities, the Chamber decided to reject Karadzic’s request to start presenting evidence in March 2013, saying that the Defence would have sufficient time to prepare itself by October.

“The Chamber considers it reasonable for the indictee, if he wants, to present his introductory statement on October 16, 2012 and invite his first witness immediately after that,” the decision says.

By August 27 Karadzic is supposed to file a list of witnesses and court experts he would like to invite and material evidence he wants to have included in the case file.

A status conference will be held on September 3, prior to the beginning of the Defence evidence presentation.

The decision says that the Trial Chamber has had an opportunity to hear statements from 338 witnesses, out of which 114 have been presented in writing. Also, the Chamber has received about 5,000 pieces of material evidence from The Hague Prosecution.
M.T.