ZAGREB, Feb 24 (Hina)- A status conference in the Blaskic case will be held before the ICTY Appeals Council on Wednesday as the appeal lodged in the Blaskic trial enters its final phase in the three-year process.
ZAGREB, Feb 24 (Hina)- A status conference in the Blaskic case will
be held before the ICTY Appeals Council on Wednesday as the appeal
lodged in the Blaskic trial enters its final phase in the three-year
process. #L#
The conference is convened in appeal procedures before the ICTY
bimonthly if the case in question passes by without a hearing.
Following the discovery of "extenuating and exculpatory" evidence
by the defence (taken from the Croatian Army, the Bosnia Army and
the Croatian President's Office) which the Appeals Council ruled as
"relevant and credible" and as such bring into question the basis of
the ruling, the prosecution submitted counter evidence not willing
to accept that a re-trial be allowed.
General Blaskic's defence attorney, Anto Nobilo told Hina the
defence would respond to a submission by the prosecution before the
deadline of March 5 which would end the argumentative stage and lead
to a ruling by the Appeals Council.
Commenting on General Blaskic's condition, Nobilo said that he was
recuperating and in a relatively good condition.
General Blaskic, who has been in jail in The Hague since April 1,
1996, was transferred to hospital early in January this year due to
serious health problems.
The Hague Tribunal found Blaskic guilty on March 3, 2000 and
sentenced him to 45 years in prison for war crimes committed in the
Lasva Valley from mid 1992 to 1994. The most serious charges relate
to the slaughter of about one hundred Bosnian Muslims in Ahmici
village committed on April 16, 1993.
(Hina) sp it