The war crimes trial of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic was adjourned today after his ill-health prompted a judicial review of the way the trial is being conducted.
Mr Milosevic, who is conducting his own defence, had been expected to deliver a political tirade today as part...
The war crimes trial of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic was adjourned today after his ill-health prompted a judicial review of the way the trial is being conducted.
Mr Milosevic, who is conducting his own defence, had been expected to deliver a political tirade today as part of his opening statement to the international criminal tribunal in The Hague. He appeared in court this morning after a two-hour delay to allow for a consultation with a doctor.
When he appeared in court, Mr Milosevic accused the presiding judge of attempting to sabotage his defence by forcing a court appearance despite his ill-health.
Judge Patrick Robinson responded that the court would adjourn to consider how to continue the case in light of Mr Milosevic's "chronic" health problems. The judge read from a doctor's report which said Mr Milosevic, 62, had suffered "organ damage" to his left ventricle due to high blood pressure and that it would not be sensible for him to begin presenting his defence as originally planned.
Mr Milosevic is charged with crimes against humanity in Croatia in 1991-92 and in Kosovo in 1999, and genocide in the 1992-95 Bosnian war. He suffers from high blood pressure and heart problems, and his fragile health has repeatedly delayed the trial since it began in February 2002.
The prosecution today demanded that counsel be imposed upon Mr Milosevic, after a doctor's report read out in court suggested his high blood pressure would be made worse by the demands of defending the case himself.
Steven Kay, one of the independent lawyers assigned to ensure a fair trial for Mr Milosevic, said fresh medical evidence put the continuation of the case in question.
"It's quite clear over the past five months that his health had been gradually declining," Mr Kay told the panel of three judges. Based on new medical reports, "he is plainly not fit enough this week," to appear in court.
Mr Milosevic today said he had not been allowed adequate time to recuperate, and that being in court was having a direct and detrimental affect on his health. He asked the judge for a further month to recover before giving his opening statement.
Judge Robinson said the time has come for a radical review of the trial process and the continuation of the trial in light of Mr Milosevic's health problems.
"We are going to consider this, and will make a ruling either today or tomorrow," Judge Robinson said.
The judge said the last medical report the court had before it, from Friday, suggested that Mr Milosevic was well enough to attend court for administrative matters, if not to deliver an opening statement. Judge Robinson said he did not have a report from this morning's consultation.
Mr Milosevic was expected today to deny responsibility for atrocities committed during the Balkan wars and to accuse Western governments of hypocrisy, in what he calls a trial motivated by politics rather than justice. He is attempting to call Tony Blair and the former US president, Bill Clinton, as well as 1,629 others as witnesses for the defence. The trial has resumed after a four-month break since the prosecution wrapped up its case. Prosecutors have spent the past two years questioning nearly 300 witnesses and introducing reams of documents, videos and other evidence.
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