Date: 18.11.2009
Time: 12:00
Registry and Chambers:
Nerma Jelačić, Spokesperson for Registry and Chambers, made the following statement:
Good afternoon,
I will turn straight to the court schedule:
Hearings in the trial of Momčilo Perišić have been adjourned until 25 January 2010, when the trial will resume with pre-Defence conference. The Prosecution has not formally rested its case but the presentation of evidence has been completed. In total, the Prosecution called 81 viva voce witnesses and 14 92bis and quarter witnesses. So far, there have been 125 trial days. The Defence case is currently expected to last between four and five months.
An Administrative Hearing in the case of Vojislav Šešelj has been scheduled for Tuesday 24 November at 16:00 in Courtroom I.
The trials of Gotovina and others, Prlić and others as well as Mićo Stanišić and Stojan Župljanin will continue this week and next as scheduled.
Office of the Prosecutor:
Olga Kavran, Spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor, made no statement.
Questions:
A journalist asked when the decision on the appointed counsel for Radovan Karadžić would be made. Nerma Jelačić replied that the Registrar was in the process of making his decision which will be in writing and public. The journalist went on to ask whether it could be confirmed that Radovan Karadžić had met with prospective counsels. Nerma Jelačić replied that in general the Registrar can consult with the Accused on the issue of appointment of counsel but added that she could not comment on specific details of this particular decision making process.
A journalist asked whether Radovan Karadžić had the right of veto over the appointment of a particular counsel. Nerma Jelačić stated that the Accused has requested certification to appeal the decision and that final decision would be made by the Appeals Chamber. The Trial Chamber in its decision encouraged Karadžić to work with the appointed counsel. Furthermore, the decision states that should the Accused continue to absent himself from the resumed proceedings in March, the appointed counsel will take over the representation of the Accused in court.
A journalist asked whether a scenario would be possible in which Karadžić continued to represent himself, but was also assisted by the appointed counsel. Nerma
Jelačić again referred to the Trial Chamber decision on this issue, now subject to appeal,
stating that Karadzic’s right to self-representation has not been revoked.
A journalist asked whether one or more counsels would be appointed by Registrar. Nerma Jelačić confirmed that one counsel would be appointed.