In an order issued on December 13, the Trial Chamber called on the Prosecutor's Office to propose ways of reducing the indictment against the three Croatian generals by at least one-third, by reducing the number of counts and/or locations of crimes or crimes mentioned in one or more counts, notably taking into account the cumulative counts of the indictment.
Recalling that the nine-count indictment covered 20 municipalities, the Trial Chamber highlighted its duty to ensure a swift and fair trial and called on the Prosecutor's Office to deliver its estimate of how much a reduction of the indictment would shorten the prosecution's presentation of evidence.
The Trial Chamber had announced its request at a status conference last week.
At last week's status conference it was announced that the Gotovina-Cermak-Markac trial might start next May.
Generals Ante Gotovina, Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac are accused of crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war committed during and after Operation Storm against Serb civilians in the Knin area in August-November 1995.