|
Milosevic, prosecutor oppose bid to speed trial |
|
|
Wednesday, 30 November 2005By Nicola Leske
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Slobodan Milosevic and U.N. prosecutors both opposed on Tuesday an attempt by the Hague war crimes tribunal to speed up the marathon trial of the former Yugoslav president amid concerns over his health.
The proposal by the three judges was to separate off part of the indictment against Milosevic, who is charged with 66 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in conflicts in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo in the 1990s.
But after the prosecution and Milosevic, who is conducting his own defence, objected to the idea, presiding judge Patrick Robinson said the court would wait for more medical examinations of the accused before making a decision.
"We still have outstanding a report ... and there has to be an examination by a radiologist," he said, adding that the trial, now in its fourth year, would continue on Wednesday.
The court had originally considered holding two separate trials for Milosevic, one on Kosovo and another one on the earlier wars in Bosnia and Croatia, but the prosecution demanded a single trial.
Tuesday's hearing was to consider separating the indictment on the 1999 Kosovo conflict to enable that part of the trial to be concluded first after Milosevic demanded proceedings halt until next year due to new health problems.
"The prosecution is completely opposed to any question of severance of the indictments," prosecutor Geoffrey Nice told the court, arguing that it would not do justice to the victims and might even prolong the trial still further.
Milosevic, 64, told the court: "I am against your idea and the first thing I ask of you is to give me back my right to health." He said it was the prosecution's responsibility to ensure the trial was manageable and that it had failed to do so.
Milosevic last year won back his right to defend himself after the court assigned him two lawyers so that the case could proceed even when he was sick. The lawyers remain on standby, but Milosevic has refused to work with them.
TORTURE
"More time has been wasted by taking away my right to self-defence," Milosevic said, adding that he should not be blamed for his ill health, which he said had been significantly impaired by the hearings in court.
"It is torture they have been exposing me to due to their megalomaniacal designs," Milosevic said of Nice and chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte.
A heart condition and high blood pressure have repeatedly kept Milosevic out of court, delaying hearings.
Milosevic, who has recently complained of an earache and headaches, said a cardiologist appointed by the court to examine him last week confirmed he needed rest, although less than the six weeks his own doctors recommended.
Milosevic has used up three quarters of the 360 hours allotted to him to present his case, but has concentrated almost exclusively on Kosovo-related evidence.
Taking Milosevic's health into account the court has limited proceedings to three days a week. But he has said he is not able to recuperate between hearings because he has to prepare his defence and question witnesses.
Reuters via swissinfo
|
Wednesday, 30 November 2005
swissinfo.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
