Date: 2 April 2014
Registry and Chambers:
Magdalena Spalińska, Spokesperson for Registry and Chambers, made the following statement:
Good afternoon,
The Prosecution’s motion to present its evidence in rebuttal in the Radovan Karadzic case was denied by the Chamber on 21 March 2014. The Chamber pointed out that rebuttal evidence must relate to a significant issue arising directly out of the Defence evidence which could not reasonably have been anticipated. Furthermore, the fact that the Accused challenged the accuracy of one or several adjudicated facts does not, in and of itself, give the Prosecution a right to bring evidence in rebuttal. The Chamber also provided a detailed explanation why the motion was dismissed in respect to each of the Prosecution’s 14 proposed witnesses.
Continuing with the Karadzic case, the Chamber ordered that both parties file its final briefs by 29 August 2014. In the same order the Chamber stated that closing arguments for the case will begin on 29 September 2014.
In the case for Ratko Mladic, the Chamber ordered a five-day hearing schedule for the Defence case, if any, scheduled to begin on 13 May. The order comes after receiving medical reports filed confidentially earlier this year and subsequent submissions from the parties. Two specialists concluded, among other things, that "delaying or protracting the course of the trial would be disadvantageous to Mr Mladic' s health."
The Chamber also instructed the Registry to arrange for the medical examinations of the accused on an ongoing basis at least every 4 months from this point forward. The trial will sit from 9:30 to 14:15, including three breaks of 20 minutes.
Now turning to the courtroom schedule, a status conference is scheduled in the Popovic and others appeals case for tomorrow, Thursday 3 April at 11:00 in courtroom I.
Hearings in the case of Goran Hadzic are on the schedule for next week, 8 and possibly 9 April from 9:00 to 14:00 in courtroom I to hear the evidence of Prosecution witness GH-002, who was previously unavailable. Otherwise the presentation of the Prosecution’s evidence has been finished. The Defence case is scheduled to commence on 24 June.
Finally, the Tribunal’s Outreach Programme in cooperation with the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in The Netherlands today welcomes a group of 45 students and professors from the Law Faculty of University of Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. During their two-day visit the future law professionals will learn about the work of the Tribunal and its achievements through meetings with the Prosecutor, Judges and various staff members.
Questions:
No questions were asked.