Karadzic’s Trial Suspended For Six Weeks
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The Chamber announced the decision on Wednesday following a request for postponement filed by Karadzic.
On February 2, Karadzic asked the Court to postpone the trial for three months – from February 15 to May 15 – because the Hague Prosecution submitted voluminous evidence material to the Defence on January 31.
“As per the motion, the Prosecution submitted 1,725 documents and about 200 hours of video recordings. The indictee will need some time to review them. The Trial Chamber has therefore found that the trial should be temporarily discontinued in order to determine the priorities.
“This measure is necessary because the Prosecution keeps submitting materials with delay. We are concerned about that. It does not understand the seriousness of the proceedings,” Trial Chamber Chairman O-Gon Kwon said.
As explained in the courtroom, the break will probably begin in the first week of March, but the Chamber will render a written decision about the exact date later on.
Karadzic, the former President of Republika Srpska and supreme Commander of its armed forces, is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws and customs of war committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 1992 to 1995.
His trial began in late October 2009. It has already been interrupted several times – for two weeks in August 2010; one week in September; and one month in November – because the indictee needed additional time to review the documents submitted to him by the Prosecution.
When Wednesday’s hearing continues, Karadzic will cross-examine witness Rupert Smith, former Commander of the UN forces in Sarajevo.
D.E.
