Health more Important than Court Summons

“I plead not guilty,” Krstic said. ??Prior to his plea judge Melville Baird asked the indictee whether he still refused to testify. Krstic responded by saying:?“I am not capable of appearing as a witness during the presentation of evidence by the Defence of Mr. Karadzic before this Court due to health reasons exclusively”.Krstic is charged with having refused to testify at Karadzic’s trial twice – at the beginning of February and end of March, explaining that his deteriorated health prevented him from testifying.

According to the Tribunal’s rules, in case the Tribunal finds Krstic guilty of contempt of court, it might sentence him to up to seven years, fine him in the amount of 10,000 Euros or both. ??

In 2004 the Tribunal rendered a second instance verdict, sentencing Krstic, wartime Commander of the Drina Corps of VRS, to 35 years in prison for having assisted in and supporting the commission of genocide in Srebrenica.??

The then President of RS Karadzic is charged with genocide against more than 7,000 Muslims in the days that followed the occupation of the Eastern Bosnia enclave by VRS on July 11, 1995. ??

The trial of Krstic for contempt of court is due to be held at a later stage.