Date: 07.05.2008
Time: 12:00
Registry and Chambers:
Nerma Jelačić, Spokesperson for Registry and Chambers, made the following statement:
Good afternoon,
As you are aware, last Friday the Prosecution filed its Notice of Appeal in the Haradinaj et al. case. Lahi Brahimaj’s Defence team filed its Notice of Appeal on Monday. In accordance with the Rules, the Appeal briefs have to be filed within 75 days of Notices which is followed by 40 days in which the other party can address the claims made in the appeal. A rebuttal of these arguments can be made within the next 15 days. It is not uncommon in the Tribunal’s history that the Appeals Chamber amends a Trial Chamber’s findings. To date, however, the Tribunal has not seen a re-trial.
In relation to this case, Astrit Haraqija and Bajrush Morina, the two accused of the contempt of court, have since their initial appearance last week filed a request for provisional release until the beginning of trial proceedings. A decision will be issued in due course.
And in the courtrooms, the Defence case in Prlić et al. started Monday with Jadranko Prlić’s Defence team opening its case. The Defence teams will present their cases separately.
Yesterday afternoon, the Prosecution made its closing arguments in the trial of Ljube Boškoski and Johan Tarčulovski which were followed this morning by the Defence’s closing arguments.
The trial of Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović resumed this week with the Prosecution’s first witness continuing testimony. Due to Stanišić’s medical condition, the Trial Chamber has put in place a stringent system to ensure close oversight of the accused’s health during the hearings. His health will be closely monitored with frequent reports being provided to the bench throughout the trial. Please note that there has been a change to the court schedule and that the trial will resume tomorrow afternoon in courtroom I.
In the Milutinović et al. trial, one of the accused, Dragoljub Ojdanić, is currently on a temporary provisional release granted on compassionate grounds. He is due to return on 12 May 2008. As the case nears completion, last Friday the Trial Chamber, set the dates of the closing arguments of both parties between 22 and 25 July 2008.
As regards the courtroom schedule for next week: The Milutinović et al. case will resume on Tuesday 13 May while hearings in Stanišić & Simatović, Šešelj, Prlic et al. and Gotovina et al. continue as scheduled.
I wish to remind you that the Tribunal will be closed on Monday 12 May.
And lastly, it is with some sadness that I advise you that after more than ten years with the Tribunal, Tim McFadden will be stepping down shortly from his position as Commanding Officer of the Detention Unit. Mr McFadden who is well known to many of you for his openness and help provided to the media over the years will be returning to spend more time with his family in his native Ireland. He leaves with our thanks and very best wishes.
Office of the Prosecutor:
Olga Kavran, Spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor, made no statement.
Questions:
Asked about how the proceedings in the Stanišić & Simatović trial will resume tomorrow afternoon, Nerma Jelačić replied that the trial will resume with the testimony of expert witness Mr. Christian Nielsen. The witness has been granted no protective measures.