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Karadzic refuses to enter pleas before ICTY on amended war crimes charges

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Former Bosnian Serb leader and war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic refused to enter pleas on Tuesday to 11 amended charges including genocide and crimes against humanity in a hearing before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Last month, the ICTY granted in part the prosecution's motion to amend the indictment against Karadzic. When asked by Judge Iain Bonhomy whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty on the first charge of genocide, Karadzic responded that he would not enter pleas because he believes the court has no right to try him. Bonhomy then entered on Karadzic's behalf not guilty pleas for all 11 charges. Karadzic has previously refused to enter pleas, with the judge issuing not guilty pleas on his behalf. Karadzic faces 11 charges including genocide, murder, persecution, deportation, and "other inhumane acts," for war crimes allegedly committed during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, including the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. Karadzic was originally indicted by the ICTY in 1995, but had been in hiding under an assumed identity until his arrest last year.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 04, 2009 (boomark / email).