Arrested on 1 April 2001 in Belgrade, Milosevic was transferred to the ICTY on 29 June 2001.
He had been indicted on May 22nd, 1999, for crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war in Kosovo (indictment modified on June 29, 2001, and again on October 29, 2001). Two other indictments were later added to these charges, with regards to the crimes committed in Croatia (indictment presented on October 8, 2001, modified on October 23, 2002, and again on July 28, 2004) and in Bosnia (indictment of November 22nd, 2001, modified on April 21, 2004).
On 3 July 2001, Milosevic entered a plea of "not guilty" for all counts on the "Kosovo" indictment, followed by a plea of "not guilty" for all counts on the "Croatia" indictment on 29 October 2001, and a "not guilty"-plea for all counts on the "Bosnia" indictment on 11 December 2001.
On 1 February 2002, the Appeals Chamber ordered that the three Indictments concerning Kosovo, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina be tried together in one single trial.
The trial commenced on 12 February 2002.
The Prosecution concluded the presentation of its case on 25 February 2004, after the hearing of nearly 300 witnesses.
On 31 August, the next phase of the trial began: It is since then Milosevic's turn to present his defense, for which he has been allotted 150 days. Hundreds of witnesses have already been announced.
The bad state of health (heart problems, high blood pressure, bouts of fatigue) of the Accused has caused many delays in the advancement of the trial. In the course of the two years, in which the Prosecution presented its case, the accused's health problems caused the loss of 66 days of trial.
Furthermore, Milosevic's attitude, who pursues a strategy of blockade, posed numerous problems to the Court. As a first measure, the Trial Chamber appointed "amici curiae" ("friends of the Court") to accompany Milosevic, who refuses to entrust his defense to a defense counsel. Then, on 2 September 2003, the Chamber assigned a counsel, with whom however Milosevic refused to cooperate.
On 1 November 2004, the Appeals Chamber partially approved Milosevic's appeal against this decision: While recognizing the validity of the assignment of counsel, the Chamber stressed that the principal role in the presentation of the defense had to appertain to Milosevic if he wished to assume this role.
Following the presentation of evidence by the Prosecutor, the trial went on until March 2006, Slobodan Milosevic concentrating his defense largely on the Kosovo part of the indictment.
On March 11, 2006, the ICTY has announced that Slobodan Milosevic was found dead in his cell.
On March 14, 2006, the proceedings against Slobodan Milosevic were formally terminated. |
