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Prosecution Ordered to Make Submissions on the Role of Assigned Defence Counsel in Milosevic Case

Press Release . Communiqué de presse

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


TRIAL CHAMBER:
CHAMBRE DE 1ÈRE INSTANCE




The Hague, 19 July 2004

JP/P.I.S./871-e



PROSECUTION ORDERED TO MAKE SUBMISSIONS ON THE ROLE OF ASSIGNED DEFENCE COUNSEL IN MILOSEVIC CASE


Today, 19 July 2004, Trial Chamber III ordered the Prosecution to make submissions on the possible role of assigned defence counsel in the Milosevic case, "…in ensuring the fair presentation of the defence case, in particular in the absence of instructions to, or cooperation with, counsel by the Accused, whereafter the Trial Chamber will decide what further action to be taken,
including ordering the Accused and Amici Curiae to file submissions in response
."




In its Order, the Trial Chamber:


Noted "that presentation of the defence case has not commenced due to the illness of the Accused" ;

Considered "the resolve and determination of the Trial Chamber to conclude the presentation of the Defence Case by October 2005, the anticipated conclusion of the 150 days allocated to the Accused for the presentation of his case, based on a three-day sitting schedule from 31 August 2004";

Noted "that the possibility remains that the Accused may not be fit to continue to represent himself in accordance with that schedule";

Considered "that it might be necessary for the Trial Chamber to consider further steps to ensure the fair and expeditious conduct and completion of the trial"; and

Considered "that, while the Prosecution has submitted that counsel might be assigned in some capacity to ensure the fair presentation of the case, it has not specified the role of counsel in that situation".

***


The full text of the Order can be found on the ICTY website : www.un.org/icty