News / Europe

Mladic Trial Suspended

Mejra Dzogaz watches the television broadcast of the court proceedings of former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic's in her home in Potocari, near Srebrenica, May 17, 2012Mejra Dzogaz watches the television broadcast of the court proceedings of former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic's in her home in Potocari, near Srebrenica, May 17, 2012
x
Mejra Dzogaz watches the television broadcast of the court proceedings of former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic's in her home in Potocari, near Srebrenica, May 17, 2012
Mejra Dzogaz watches the television broadcast of the court proceedings of former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic's in her home in Potocari, near Srebrenica, May 17, 2012
TEXT SIZE - +
VOA News
A judge has suspended the war crimes trial of Bosnian Serb wartime General Ratko Mladic on its second day at The Hague.

Presiding judge Alphons Orie Thursday cited "significant disclosure errors" as the reason for the stoppage. Prosecutors are required to share all evidence with Mladic's defense team.

The judge says the court is examining the scope and full impact of the error, and hopes to have a new start date soon.

International prosecutors have indicted Mladic on 11 counts, including genocide, that they allege were committed during the early 1990s in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  

Mladic is also accused of ordering the massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the United Nations-protected Srebrenica enclave in July 1995.

Prosecutors say they will use evidence from more than 400 witnesses, though very few of them will testify in court. The first witness is scheduled to appear May 29.

Mladic has refused to enter a plea, but denies any wrongdoing. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.

On Monday, the first day of the long-awaited trial, prosecutors presented video and transcripts of Mladic's phone conversations as evidence of his role in killing civilians.  

Mladic is considered a hero by many Serbs, especially in Bosnia. He was arrested a year ago in Serbia, after 16 years on the run as one of Europe's most wanted men. Observers say he could not have been in hiding so long without a support network.  


 

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

You May Like

Doctors Without Borders Shuts Clinic in Northern Nigeria

Decision comes after five gunmen hijacked an aid vehicle on Saturday More

Experts Weigh In on Challenges of Closing Guantanamo Prison

Former chief military prosecutor at Guantanamo delivers petition to White House with more than 370,000 signatures, demanding facility be closed down immediately More

Karzai to Discuss Enhancing Defense Ties with India

Afghanistan looking for more military aid as it prepares for withdrawal of NATO forces by next year More

Burmese President Opens US Visit with VOA Town Hall Meeting

Ahead of his meeting with President Obama Monday, Thein Sein answered questions on human rights and economic development in his country More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Calls Grow For An End to Sexual Assaults in US Military

A recent Pentagon report says the number of sexual assaults among people in the military continues to grow. The estimated number of incidents, ranging from groping to rape, increased by 37 percent last year. Both men and women were victims. This is prompting them, and activists, to push for deep changes in the US military. VOA Pentagon correspondent Luis Ramirez reports.