SPLIT, Nov 12 (Hina) - Slavko Lozina, who chairs the panel of judges presiding the trial against eight former military policemen charged with war crimes committed in the Lora military prison in 1992, on Tuesday read a note in Cyrillic
sent by the Yugoslav Justice Ministry about the failure of witnesses from Yugoslavia to attend the trial, even though it had been announced that a court interpreter would translate the note.
SPLIT, Nov 12 (Hina) - Slavko Lozina, who chairs the panel of judges
presiding the trial against eight former military policemen
charged with war crimes committed in the Lora military prison in
1992, on Tuesday read a note in Cyrillic sent by the Yugoslav
Justice Ministry about the failure of witnesses from Yugoslavia to
attend the trial, even though it had been announced that a court
interpreter would translate the note. #L#
The Yugoslav Justice Ministry informed Croatia's Justice Ministry
that the witnesses did not attend the October 21 hearing because
there was not enough time for their subpoenas to be delivered. It
suggested that a timeline for subpoenas be set at least 60 days
prior to any appearance.
With regard to the non-attendance of witnesses at the September 23
hearing, the note stated that the Yugoslav Justice Ministry had
taken steps to have eight of the 14 witnesses subpoenaed depart for
Split on time. However, they decided against it when they heard that
Judge Lozina had attended a concert by controversial pop singer
Marko Perkovic Thompson where, according to the note, he behaved
inappropriately for a judge.
In addition, the witnesses were informed that disciplinary
proceedings had been instigated against Lozina and that the trial
was to be transferred to another court, the note read, adding that
the witnesses had still not been notified about the outcome.
The panel of judges rejected these explanations as offensive and
constituting blackmail, turning down a request by the prosecution
that the witnesses from Yugoslavia be subpoenaed again.
Judge Lozina pointed out that the Croatian Justice Ministry should
have reacted to the note. Defence attorneys Josko Ceh and Ankica
Luetic labelled the note "a diplomatic scandal".
The trial continues on Wednesday when the defence will present
evidence.
(hina) sp/ha sb