Karadzic Seeks Stay in ITCY Trial

By Kenneth F. Hunt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Kardzic, currently on trial for war crimes, has filed a motion asking the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ITCY) to “stay the proceedings in his trial due to resume next week on April 13.

Specifically, Mr. Karadzic claims that the trial is tainted because of “the admission of the unprecedented number of prior statements and testimonies” the “taking of judicial notice of an unprecedented number of adjudicated facts.”

Karadzic’s American attorney, Peter Robinson, contests that if the trial proceeds, it will “violate the fundamental tenets of fair criminal trials” and deprive Mr. Karadzic of the opportunity to defend himself.

The motion indicates that the ITCY Trial Chamber accepted some 1,500 facts found in previous Bosnian war crimes cases with different defendants. Moreover, written affidavits of 141 prosecution witnesses have been admitted in court, allegedly without adequate opportunity for cross examination. Without the ability to question these facts and witnesses, Mr. Karadzic says that he will not be afforded a fair trial.

This stay is another potential delay in bringing Mr. Karadzic to justice for 11 charges of crimes against humanity, genocide, and violations of the laws of war. The charges stem from when Mr. Karadzic served as the leader of Bosnian Serbs and allegedly ordering the massacre of 8,000 Muslims in Srebrenica during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.

Since being arrested in 2008, Mr. Karadzic has consistently attempted to delay proceedings. For example, in October 2009, Karadzic boycotted the prosecution’s opening statements.

Also, just last week, Mr. Karadzic filed a motion to postpone the trial to allow him more time to prepare the defense. However, the ITCY Appellate Chamber refused to grant the motion and delay the trial past April 13, the day which the prosecution will call its first witness to testify.

For more information, please see:

BALKAN INSIGHT – Karadzic Files for ‘Stay of Proceedings’ in ITCY – 6 April 2010

CTV – Ex-Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic asks UN to halt trial – 6 April 2010

ETAIWANNEWS – Karadzic says trial is unfair, asks court for halt – 6 April 2010

Author: Impunity Watch Archive