Defense of the former commandant of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) Ratko Mladić intends to end the presentation of their evidence by examining three more witnesses and two expert witnesses by the end of next month.
Mladić’s defense attorney Miodrag Stojanović said that in the past three months only several hearings were held in the process before The Hague Tribunal, due to objective issues with witnesses.
However, the Defense almost resolved these issues and intends to complete the evidentiary proceedings by examining the remaining witnesses and expert witnesses in two weeks, from April 18 to 30.
The Hague Tribunal stated that they are aware of the halt in Mladić’s case and that this is why the presiding judge Alphons Orie told the Defense that the period allotted for preparation of the closing arguments will be shorter by this time.
Attorney Stojanović said that the Defense is informed about this decision of the Council and that the remaining witnesses and expert witnesses will be examined already next month.
“We have three more witnesses to examine, former observers from the area of Sarajevo and Krajina, who are still employed in NATO forces. We had to obtain permissions from NATO to examine them and it took time. That is why their hearing was planned for the week starting on April 18,” Stojanović said.
Mladić is accused of genocide committed in Srebrenica and seven other BiH municipalities, the persecution of Bosniaks and Croats throughout BiH, terror against civilians in Sarajevo by long-time bombing and sniper fire, and taking UNPROFOR members as hostages.
His trial began in May 2012.
(Source: klix.ba)
