|
The Trial Chamber sitting in the case of Milan Martić, a former Croatian Serb leader in the 1991-1995 conflict in Croatia, today began a site visit to several locations in Croatia and north-western Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Trial Chamber ruled that "it is in the interest of justice to conduct a site visit to locations of crimes alleged in the Indictment". The locations to be visited during the 25 to 30 September 2006 tour were selected after both parties in the case were heard.
The visiting delegation consists of judges from Trial Chamber I, as well as support staff from the Tribunal along with representatives of both the Prosecution and Defence.
The Prosecution charges Martić with a series of crimes committed during the war in Croatia. He is charged with the extermination and murder of hundreds of Croat, Muslim and other non-Serb civilians in both Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, he is charged with the prolonged and routine imprisonment and confinement of hundreds of Croat, Muslim and other non-Serb
civilians in detention facilities and unlawful attacks on Zagreb, as well as Croat and Muslim villages.
The trial of Martić began on 13 December 2005 with the Prosecution completing its case-in-chief on 20 June 2006. The Defence began presenting its case on 11 July 2006. It is expected that the Defence case will close on 20 November 2006 and that the closing arguments will be presented between 10 and 12 January 2007.
*****
Press agencies are advised that there are no media opportunities
during the site visit and that all press queries should be directed to the Tribunal's Media Office.
Courtroom proceedings can be followed on the Tribunal's website at www.un.org/icty.
|
