Mladic: First Witnesses on July 9

Mladic’s trial has started on May16 with introductory statements by the Hague prosecution, but the calling of first witnesses was postponed due to constant problems with disclosure of evidence to the Defence.

Even though the Defence asked for a six month break in order to prepare for the first witnesses, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, has decided that the presentation of the Prosecution’s evidence in the case of Ratko Mladić will start on Monday, 9 July 2012.

“The written reasons for the Chamber’s decision will be filed in due course. The hearings will take place from 9 July until 20 July, at which time the Tribunal will observe a three week summer recess. The Chamber has asked the Prosecution to file a new witness list by 26 June for 9 July until 20 July time period and to only include witnesses least impacted by any disclosure failures”, The ICTY stated.

Mladic, who was arrested in May last year, is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war during the Bosnian conflict between 1992 and 1995.

The indictment charges Mladic with genocide in Srebrenica in 1995 and several other Bosnian municiaplities in 1992. He is also charged with the expulsion of Bosniaks and Croats from municipalities under the control of Bosnian Serbs, terrorising Sarajevo citizens with a campaign of shelling and sniping and taking international soldiers as hostages in 1995.