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1 Wednesday, 20 November 2002
2 [Status Conference]
3 [Open session]
4 [The accused entered court]
5 --- Upon commencing at 2.30 p.m.
6 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Good afternoon. Please be seated.
7 May we hear the case number, please.
8 THE REGISTAR: Good afternoon. This is case number IT-02-59-PT,
9 the Prosecutor versus Mrdja.
10 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: And the appearances for the Prosecution, please.
11 MR. KOUMJIAN: Good day again, Your Honour. Nicholas Koumjian and
12 Sureta Chana for the Office of the Prosecutor. We are assisted today by
13 Skye Winner, who is here.
14 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: And for the Defence, please.
15 MR. DIMITRIJEVIC: [Interpretation] Your Honours --
16 THE INTERPRETER: Microphone, please.
17 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Microphone.
18 MR. DIMITRIJEVIC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, my name is
19 Vojislav Dimitrijevic, Defence counsel for Mr. Darko Mrdja.
20 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: May I start this Status Conference addressing
21 immediately the accused himself, and first of all asking whether or not he
22 can follow the proceedings in a language he can understand.
23 Mr. Mrdja, you can hear me in a language you understand?
24 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] I understand everything, Your
25 Honour.
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1 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Thank you. And may I immediately ask you
2 whether or not you have any health problems or there are any problems
3 connected to your imprisonment in the Detention Unit?
4 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] No, I haven't. Thank you for
5 asking.
6 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Thank you. Please be seated again.
7 The Defence counsel, you want to add anything related to health or
8 Detention Unit?
9 MR. DIMITRIJEVIC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I can only
10 confirm what my client has already said. At the Detention Unit, he is
11 being treated in keeping with the relevant rules, and there are no special
12 problems that I would like to draw the Court's attention to.
13 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Thank you.
14 Fortunately, the problem related to the motion of the OTP has been
15 resolved. I hope the parties have received yesterday's decision granting
16 leave to withdraw the Prosecution's motion of 2nd October for an order to
17 compel the accused, Darko Mrdja, to provide a photograph of his upper and
18 lower teeth. This is no problem any longer.
19 Is it correct that there are no outstanding motions in this case?
20 MR. KOUMJIAN: There are no motions at the present time, although
21 I could inform the Court that we anticipate one or two. We have, in draft
22 form - it's not quite ready - a motion regarding protective measures for
23 witnesses, which will be filed shortly.
24 There's another issue which I wanted to bring up today - and if
25 required, we're prepared to file a written motion - and that is that we
Page 28
1 would like to arrange to have the accused participate in an identification
2 parade in January of this year. We're asking for, in particular, early
3 January because one witness will be in The Hague in any event. So to cut
4 down on the travel costs for the Tribunal, we propose to have two
5 witnesses attend that identification parade. I don't know if that's -- I
6 didn't get a chance just now to speak to counsel about it, but -- and I
7 don't know his position.
8 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Thank you for this. We'll come back to this
9 later when we discuss the envisaged trial.
10 But first of all, as foreseen by the Rules, let me ask: Under
11 Rule 66(A)(i), we discussed already earlier that the support material was
12 disclosed in full to the Defence. There is no problem. That's my
13 understanding.
14 MR. DIMITRIJEVIC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, if you allow me,
15 I would like to say the following: Regarding the motion filed by the
16 Prosecutor's office which you allowed to be withdrawn, I would like to
17 emphasise that originally there was an attempt to photograph my client's
18 teeth without this motion, and then after my oral intervention at the
19 Detention Unit, the OTP filed their motion nevertheless, to which I
20 objected, and I hope this puts an end to it.
21 As for the Prosecutor's motion, I've heard of it today for the
22 first time. It took me aback slightly, and I would have to discuss it
23 with the OTP. All I know for the moment is that it is about some sort of
24 identification parade, but I would have to find out more from the
25 Prosecution.
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1 As for discovery, just before the Status Conference, I received
2 certain materials from the OTP, and I hope that thereby they fulfilled
3 their obligations regarding discovery, but I still have to look through
4 the material and ascertain that. Thank you.
5 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: May I ask, then, on Rule 68, the ongoing
6 obligation to disclose exculpatory material, comments by the Prosecution.
7 MR. KOUMJIAN: Your Honour, perhaps Ms. Chana will want to add to
8 what I have to say, because she is handling this, but among the documents
9 disclosed today were some documents felt to be Rule 68. The Prosecutor's
10 office has also initiated a computer search, using a systematic criteria,
11 to look for material that would be Rule 68 on this case. We hope that
12 this will be a much simpler exercise than in many cases, because this is
13 an indictment limited to a specific date, a specific place, and the role
14 of the accused is quite clear. The accusation as to the role of the
15 accused is quite clear. So we are conducting a systematic search through
16 our computer -- our information systems people, and we have already
17 identified a few documents which have been turned over as potentially Rule
18 68.
19 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Thank you.
20 Any complaints from your side as regards 68?
21 MR. DIMITRIJEVIC: [Interpretation] This is precisely the issue I
22 wanted to raise today, that is, disclosure of the complete material by the
23 Prosecution. I'm extremely glad the Prosecution have done so today, but
24 I'm sorry that they did not do so earlier, because I don't see any reason
25 why they couldn't have.
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1 As for disclosure under Rule 68, we are not in a position to say
2 anything for the moment, because we don't know what the volume of this
3 material is, and we expect the Prosecution to comply with the obligations
4 they have assumed today.
5 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: This seems to be self-evident and under Rule
6 68.
7 The core issue of today is the planning for trial. You know that
8 we intended earlier to have heard this case in a break of another case.
9 For other reasons we discussed earlier, it was not possible to do so. In
10 addition, there had been reasons now that this decision not to try to hear
11 this case in between have arisen; especially, one Judge had to leave The
12 Hague for health reasons and was replaced by another Judge in this case.
13 Nevertheless, within Trial Chamber II we came to the agreement that we
14 will hear two, three, or even four short cases as soon as possible in a
15 row, and therefore it's mandatory to have all the cases ready for trial as
16 soon as possible. There shouldn't be any delay, because from our point of
17 view, this row of three or four cases would be heard following immediately
18 the end of the second or third next case. This would mean that the
19 parties should be ready for trial no later than, in any event, May or June
20 next year. We succeeded already in another case, and this case, another
21 short case, is ready for trial.
22 I'm interested first of all to know whether the Office of the
23 Prosecutor still intends to call only about 15 witnesses live and some 92
24 bis statements and their case would last for one month or less. Is this
25 expectation still realistic?
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1 MR. KOUMJIAN: Yes.
2 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: During the last Status Conference and 65 ter (I)
3 meeting, we also discussed the question: What about agreed facts? And it
4 was only reasonable that the Defence stated: First of all, we have to do
5 our own investigations. That will take us some three months. And I think
6 they have expired now. Can you give us any news whether or not the
7 Defence is prepared to come to agreed facts in this case?
8 MR. DIMITRIJEVIC: [Interpretation] Your Honour, by decision of the
9 Registry, we got the names of the legal assistant on the 11th of October,
10 and full discovery was complied with only today. I can say that the
11 Defence will be ready, certainly, by the deadline you envisaged, that is,
12 May or June 2003. However, as far as agreed facts are concerned, I
13 believe we could be ready within a month or 45 days to start serious
14 discussions with the OTP to identify such facts.
15 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: The Trial Chamber would appreciate very much if
16 it would be possible to come to agreed facts, that this case, in fact, can
17 be limited to that what it is, a case on the individual responsibility for
18 the crimes alleged in the indictment and related to Mr. Mrdja only. It
19 can be extremely helpful and it's in the interests of a fair trial,
20 including a trial that is expeditious. Therefore, it's also in the
21 interest of the Defence and the accused himself to concentrate on the core
22 issues on the alleged individual crimes in this case. So therefore, I
23 would be grateful if the parties could report to the Trial Chamber as soon
24 as they have reached some agreed facts, especially the chapeau elements of
25 crime of the alleged offences in this indictment.
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1 Mr. Koumjian.
2 MR. KOUMJIAN: Your Honour just stated much of what I wanted to
3 state. The only facts that we believe will shorten the trial would be
4 those allegations in the indictment that are the necessary chapeau
5 elements, that is, that this crime took place in the context of an armed
6 conflict and a widespread and systematic attack upon a civilian
7 population, with a stipulation: All evidence related to crimes outside of
8 this incident on August 21st at Koricanski Stijene would not be
9 necessary. Without the stipulation, it would be necessary by way of -- we
10 would proceed by way of 92 bis on as much as possible, or ask the Court to
11 take judicial notice. But those are the facts, to make it clear to
12 counsel, that we're requesting a stipulation on, so that the evidence
13 simply concentrates on the 21st of August at Koricanski Stijene.
14 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Now that this would proceed, would accelerate
15 the proceedings in this case, and also it would not be necessary to cover
16 all the historic environment, not to have an expert on history and other
17 issues. So therefore, please try to come together as soon as possible and
18 discuss these issues, and that we then can concentrate on the concrete
19 allegations only.
20 In preparation of this case, I know that sometimes there is the
21 impression that there is a kind of imbalance, this huge unit of the
22 Prosecution versus one Defence counsel. And already during the last
23 Status Conference we touched upon this issue, asking whether or not it
24 would be necessary to immediately assign a co-counsel.
25 Did you discuss this issue already with the Registry?
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1 MR. DIMITRIJEVIC: [Interpretation] Your Honour, I haven't
2 discussed this issue with the Registry. I believe a co-counsel is
3 important in this case, and we will certainly appoint one well in advance
4 of the beginning of the trial. We are negotiating with several people who
5 could take on this role, and we are looking among our colleagues from the
6 common-law system.
7 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Thank you. May I ask, are there any other
8 procedural questions we should or could resolve today? For the
9 Prosecution?
10 MR. KOUMJIAN: Not at this time. We do look forward to counsel's,
11 once he's had a chance to consider this and consult his client, his
12 position on the identification parade so that it could be arranged in
13 January when the witness is here, if possible.
14 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: In fact, the Trial Chamber would appreciate that
15 the parties come to an agreement as regards this line-up or -- because
16 this is the law, I think, in all main jurisdictions, that this never can
17 be regarded as a kind of self-incrimination to participate in such an
18 identification parade. And without anticipating, maybe request a decision
19 by the Trial Chamber, I can tell you that the outcome would be quite
20 clear. We proceeded this way already in another case, and so this is no
21 legal problem, opposed to the other question you raised when it was to
22 compel your client to actively participate in such an identification
23 parade has nothing to do with any kind of self-incrimination.
24 Therefore, I would ask you to ask your client to be prepared in
25 January to participate in such an identification parade.
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1 Can you agree with this?
2 MR. DIMITRIJEVIC: [Interpretation] Your Honour, as I have already
3 said, I only wish to receive a written motion from the Prosecution to this
4 effect before I state my position.
5 I must say things are a bit clearer now. Maybe it is a question
6 of interpreting, because the first word I heard in my language was
7 "parade," and now I understand that this is an identification line-up, a
8 procedure which is common in all systems, including the one I come from.
9 In any parade, any identification line-up that might take place, I
10 insist on attending as Defence counsel.
11 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: I have to emphasise also in this case that this
12 Trial Chamber prefers to avoid unnecessary filings and unnecessary
13 motions, and things can be and should be settled in the framework of
14 Status Conferences, 65 ter (I) meetings, and so on. Therefore, I think it
15 would not be necessary to file a concrete motion. If there still should
16 be a dispute, please ask the Trial Chamber for a 65 ter (I) meeting, and
17 we will resolve not only this problem, maybe also other problems arising
18 in the future.
19 So therefore, if I don't hear anything else from the parties, I
20 take it that the line-up will take place in January and in the presence of
21 Defence counsel.
22 MR. KOUMJIAN: Yes. Just to -- for everyone's scheduling, if
23 possible, the Prosecution was going to request to have the line-up on the
24 14th of January. The current schedule for that witness's travel would
25 have him here on the 13th and available on the 14th. We would be asking
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1 the Court to arrange a procedure similar to what was done in Stakic, with
2 the exception that, if possible, we would like the witnesses to not be
3 visible. So we can discuss the logistics later, but perhaps they could be
4 in one of the booths, unlit, where they can see the accused but where
5 their identity, for the moment, remains anonymous.
6 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: If this should be a problem, this Trial Chamber
7 and the Pre-Trial Judge will always be of assistance. Only ask for a
8 meeting if necessary. But I think as regards this concrete line-up, there
9 shouldn't be any problem.
10 Would this date be appropriate for you?
11 MR. DIMITRIJEVIC: [Interpretation] Your Honour, this date would
12 not be convenient for the Defence or the client, I believe, because the
13 14th of January is the New Year under the Julian calendar celebrated by
14 all Orthodox believers. And generally speaking, January is full of
15 Orthodox holidays, and I would very much appreciate understanding on
16 behalf of the Prosecution, if they could refrain from setting such dates
17 in January.
18 As for the identification line-up itself, I hope that the rules
19 governing such a line-up would be made available to us well in advance so
20 that we can understand with considerable notice how it is going to take
21 place.
22 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: My recommendation would be that the Office of
23 the Prosecutor informs the Defence of what happened in the Stakic case,
24 how it was conducted, and what you especially want in this case, that the
25 witnesses appear in the booth or somewhere else in a way that they are not
Page 38
1 seen by the accused and the other persons lining up. Also, this is the
2 usual practice in nearly all jurisdictions of the world, so therefore, I
3 can't see any problem. And I want to invite the parties to come together
4 and to find a common date for this line-up as soon as possible.
5 From that what I just said, you can hear that I take it serious
6 that any obstacles or impediments to starting the case as soon as possible
7 and to have it ready for trial, that is of utmost importance that we can
8 have this envisaged row of three or four cases together starting May or
9 June next year. And you know that Rules provide for certain time limits
10 as regards the pre-trial brief and other preparations. So therefore, it
11 seems to be a long time, another six months, but in fact it isn't. And
12 taking into account that, if I recall correctly, Mr. Mrdja, you have been
13 arrested already in June of this year, this would then be already after
14 one year of detention.
15 So therefore, I ask the parties to do the necessary -- to fulfil
16 their obligation under the Rules as soon as possible and to come together
17 and to speak together. If it should not be possible, please request an
18 additional 65 ter (I) meeting. Otherwise, we would hear the next Status
19 Conference from now on within 120 days, maybe already then combined with a
20 kind of Pre-Trial Conference.
21 Are there any other issues to be discussed today? By the Defence,
22 please.
23 MR. DIMITRIJEVIC: [Interpretation] Your Honour, I only wish, since
24 I had no opportunity to do this before and the Prosecution stated their
25 own intentions regarding motions, I only wish to advise the Honourable
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1 Court and all interested parties that the Government of Republika Srpska
2 provided guarantees for the provisional release of Mr. Mrdja. I did not
3 receive these guarantees in writing yet, but when I do, I will file a
4 motion requesting the provisional release of Mr. Mrdja.
5 That is all I have to say for the moment. Thank you.
6 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Thank you. Anything else by the Prosecution?
7 MR. KOUMJIAN: No, Your Honour. We will file the pre-trial brief
8 before the next conference.
9 JUDGE SCHOMBURG: Thank you. This concludes today's Status
10 Conference.
11 --- Whereupon the Status Conference adjourned
12 at 3.00 p.m.
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