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Blaskic case: Defence has filed a motion to preclude testimony of 53 Prosecution witnesses.

Press Release

(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)

CC/PIO/218-E

The Hague, 26 June 1997

BLASKIC CASE:
DEFENCE HAS FILED A MOTION TO PRECLUDE TESTIMONY OF 53 PROSECUTION WITNESSES


On Wednesday 25 June 1997, the Defence for the Accused BLASKIC filed a motion "to preclude testimony of certain prosecution witnesses".


Based upon the alleged '"prosecution's violation of the Tribunal's order compelling the production of discovery materials", this Motion states that "the Prosecution has failed to disclose to the Defense statements of [certain] prosecution witnesses, has delayed until the eve of the trial the identification of [certain] witnesses known to the Prosecution for
many months, and has similarly delayed producing voluminous witness statements until the final days before trial (...)".


The Defence for the Accused alleges that "the accused has been denied an adequate opportunity to identify the witnesses in advance of the trial, to investigate the contents of their statements and to prepare for the cross-examination of such witnesses and the presentation of rebuttal testimony. These rights are guaranteed by" various articles of the Statute and Rules of the
Rules of Procedure and Evidence.


The Defence then "requests that the Trial Chamber preclude the witnesses identified above [in the number of 53] from testifying on behalf of the Prosecution, at trial, and order the disclosure to the Defense of the Prosecution's list of actual witnesses, or grant such relief as it may deem appropriate"