Exemption of Judges Requested

The request for exemption of Trial Chamber Chairman Zoran Bozic and judge Mira Smajlovic was not explained concretely at this hearing.
 
Judge Bozic said that three invited witnesses appeared at the hearing.           
 
“The fact that you filed your request this morning is not fair. You should have done it before those witnesses came. This will now cause unnecessary costs,” Bozic said, adding that the Defence’s right to file such a request was not disputable.
 
Defence attorney Petko Pavlovic expressed his concern due to the way the witnesses were examined at the last hearing. However, he has not filed a motion yet, because, as he said, he first wanted to hear a recording from the hearing.         
 
“Following the last hearing, on April 9, I requested an audio recording and transcript of the hearing. I received the recording yesterday. I prepared the motion last night. I expressed my concern in relation to the witness, who was examined… I am asking you to consider this as a Defence attorney’s right and obligation,” Pavlovic said.
 
The judge exemption motion will be discussed at a general session of the Court. The continuation date for this trial will be set afterwards.       
 
Rackovic, former member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, is charged with having participated in attacks on Bosniak villages, detention, torture, forced disappearances of persons from the Visegrad area and rape from May to the end of August 1992.