Tadic case: Trial Chamber to consider a request by the accused to withdraw lead counsel.

Press Release

CHAMBERS

(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)

Tadic case: Trial Chamber to consider a request by the accused to withdraw lead counsel.

On Tuesday 22 April 1997, the Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia forwarded to Trial Chamber II requests by the accused Dusko TADIC that:

- Mr. Michaïl Wladimiroff be withdrawn as his lead Defence Counsel (assigned on 1 May 1995);

- and be replaced by Mr. Milan Vujin as lead counsel with Mr. Nikola Kostic as co-counsel.

Under Article 20 of the Directive on Assigment of Defence Counsel, the decision to grant the request of an accused to be assigned another counsel rests with the Trial Chamber dealing with the accused's case. If the request is granted it is for the Registrar to assign a new counsel from the list of counsels who have indicated their willingness to serve as assigned defence lawyer.

Article 21 provides further that "where the assignment of counsel is withdrawn by the Registrar or where the services of assigned counsel are discontinued, the counsel assigned may not withdraw from acting until either a replacement counsel has been provided by the Tribunal or by the suspect or accused, or the suspect or accused has declared his intention in writing to conduct his own defence".

Mr. Michaïl Wladimiroff, however, has decided to disseminate as an attachment to this Press Release his own statement.

 

*****
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
For more information, please contact our Media Office in The Hague
Tel.: +31-70-512-8752; 512-5343; 512-5356 - Email: press [at] icty.org ()
Follow ICTY on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube