Milosevic witness says not guilty of contempt (how the UN World Court works)

alertnet.org ^ | 06 May 2005 08:32:40 GMT | Reuters

[Destro]

Milosevic witness says not guilty of contempt

06 May 2005 08:32:40 GMT

Source: Reuters

AMSTERDAM, May 6 (Reuters) - A defence witness for Slobodan Milosevic pleaded not guilty on Friday to a charge of contempt of court after he refused to testify when the former Yugoslav president was ill last month.

Kosta Bulatovic, a Kosovo Serb leader, refused last month to be cross-examined by prosecutors without Milosevic in court, prompting the three-judge panel to charge him with contempt.

Bulatovic pleaded not guilty on Friday in a webcast of the hearing. The contempt charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison or a 100,000 euro fine, or both.

Doctors advised Milosevic to rest for a week at the time Bulatovic was on the stand, saying the 63-year-old's high blood pressure could worsen his heart condition.

The marathon trial, already in its fourth year, has been repeatedly delayed by Milosevic's poor health, and the prosecution's attempt to question Bulatovic without the accused in court is part of a drive to speed up proceedings.

U.N. prosecutor Geoffrey Nice said he believed Milosevic could persuade witnesses to testify if he wanted them to give evidence while he was ill.

Last year, the U.N. tribunal in The Hague assigned two lawyers to defend Milosevic to try to prevent more delays.

Milosevic later won back his right to lead his own defence case on appeal, but the lawyers remain on hand to take over when he is sick, even though they have said they cannot properly defend the accused as he refuses to cooperate with them.

Charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Milosevic does not recognise the court and has declined to enter a plea. Pleas of "not guilty" were entered for him.

[Destro]

This trail is a farce - how can a witness be compelled to testify without the defense present? Why are American tax dollars going to fund this kangaroo court?

[tahotdog]

Any shot at Putin having spetznaz recue Milosevic? I mean, I'd pay a hundred dollars right now to watch that. TWO hundred if they could shoot the Hague to pieces in the process.

[endthematrix]

According to article 67 of the Rome Statute, in the determination of any charge, the accused is entitled to a public hearing, to a fair hearing conducted impartially, and to the following minimum guarantees, in full equality:

To be present at the trial...

To examine, or have examined, the witnesses against him or her and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his or her behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him or her.

[Destro]

Statues? We don't need no stinkin' statues!

[Hoplite]

Just out of curiosity, why would you reference the Rome Statutes (ICC) in regards to the ICTY?

[duckln]

has been repeatedly delayed by Milosevic's poor health

The truth actually is..... has been dragged on by a prosecution that has failed to make a case

It's obvious to anyone who still has the stomach to follow the 'tribunal', that the whole prosecution team are paid henchmen.

This fiasco is a result of the International Court system that was adopted in Rome that the EU would wish to use gainst the US.

We, W, wouldn't buy it, Milosevic had to.

[Hoplite]

Thanks for adding the "This is the kind of individual Slobo suckered back in Serbia" input.

Slobo's an even more incompetent lawyer than he was a national leader, but if you choose to believe he's doing a bang up job, well, whatever.