Ratko Mladic ejected from war crimes court after refusing to enter plea

Judge enters not guilty pleas on defendant’s behalf after Ratko Mladic accuses court of ‘trying to impose impossible conditions’ Ratko Mladic was removed from the UN war crimes court at The Hague on Monday after refusing to enter a plea and repeatedly talking while the judge attempted to read the list of charges. The presiding judge, Alphons Orie, briefly adjourned the hearing to have Mladic removed, and formally entered not guilty pleas on the former general’s behalf, in line with court rules for suspects who refuse to plead. Mladic argued he should be allowed to choose his own lawyers and refused to listen to the charges. “You are trying to impose impossible conditions on me – a lawyer I do not want,” he said. Mladic had threatened to boycott the hearing because court officials have not yet appointed the Serbian and Russian lawyers he wants to represent him at his trial, although one of his desired lawyers has said he would not be able to represent Mladic as he does not speak English. Mladic repeatedly flaunted courtroom regulations, donning a cap and gesturing to members of the public, in open defiance of orders from Orie. Interrupting the judge, he complained of being “an old man” and told Orie he wanted to wear the cap because his head was cold. When Orie asked Mladic whether he was ready to hear the charges, Mladic responded: “You can do whatever you want.” However, as Orie began speaking, Mladic said: “No, no, no! Don’t read it to me, not another word,” and pulled off his earphones, slumping back in his seat with a frown. After Orie warned him to be quiet or he would be removed, Mladic said: “Remove me.” Orie told Mladic it was up to the court’s registry, not judges, to approve his two requested attorneys, although one of the lawyers, Milos Saljic, said on Sunday he was not a real candidate. “I don’t speak English,” Saljic said. “He’s insisting on me because I have been his lawyer all of his life.” The lawyer said Mladic’s behaviour demonstrated he was not fit to stand trial. “Let them now see for themselves his behaviour and let them decide accordingly,” Saljic told Associated Press. After Mladic was removed Orie read out the 11 charges, entering not guilty pleas for Mladic. He told Mladic’s court-appointed lawyer, Aleksander Aleksic, that if he was able to communicate with Mladic, he should inform him of his not guilty pleas and that he had the option of changing them at any time. The 69-year-old former general is accused of masterminding the worst Serb atrocities of Bosnia’s 1992-95 war that cost 100,000 lives. He is accused of genocide as the top military official overseeing the 1995 killing of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica, Europe’s worst mass killing since the second world war. Monday marked Mladic’s second appearance before the UN court since being extradited by Serbia a month ago. He was arrested in a village outside Belgrade in May , after nearly 16 years as one of Europe’s most-wanted fugitives. Orie adjourned the hearing without setting a date for trial or scheduling another hearing. If convicted, Mladic faces life imprisonment. Ratko Mladic Serbia Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe War crimes Adam Gabbatt guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 4, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.