Page 718
1 Tuesday, 17 March 2009
2 [Judgement]
3 [Open session]
4 [The appellant enters court]
5 --- Upon commencing at 12.31 p.m.
6 JUDGE POCAR: Good afternoon to everybody.
7 Mr. Registrar, would you please call the case.
8 THE REGISTRAR: Good afternoon, Your Honours. This is case
9 number IT-00-39-A, the Prosecutor versus Momcilo Krajisnik.
10 JUDGE POCAR: Thank you.
11 Mr. Krajisnik, can you clearly hear and understand the
12 translation?
13 THE APPELLANT: [Interpretation] Yes, Your Honour.
14 JUDGE POCAR: Thank you.
15 I will now ask for the appearances of the parties, first for the
16 Prosecution.
17 MR. KREMER: Good afternoon, Mr. President, Your Honours.
18 Appearing on behalf of the Prosecution, Peter Kremer, to my right,
19 Barbara Goy, Matteo Costi, and Katharina Margetts. Assisting us this
20 afternoon is our case manager, Lourdes Galicia.
21 JUDGE POCAR: Thank you.
22 Now counsel for Mr. Krajisnik on the matter of JCE.
23 MR. N. DERSHOWITZ: Good afternoon, Your Honours,
24 Nathan Dershowitz is counsel on JCE.
25 JUDGE POCAR: Thank you.
Page 719
1 And Amicus Curiae?
2 MR. NICHOLLS: [Microphone not activated]
3 JUDGE POCAR: Thank you.
4 In accordance with the Scheduling Order issued on 26 February,
5 2009, the Appeals Chamber will now deliver its judgement in this case.
6 Following the practice of the Tribunal, I will not read out the text of
7 the judgement except for the disposition. Instead, I will summarise the
8 findings of the Appeals Chamber. This summary is not part of the written
9 judgement, which is the only authoritative account of the Appeal Chamber
10 rulings. Copies of the written judgement will be made available at the
11 conclusion of this hearing.
12 This case concerns events that have occurred in 35 municipalities
13 in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1st July, 1991, and
14 30th December, 1992
15 Krajisnik responsible for persecution, extermination, deportation, and
16 inhumane acts, all crimes against humanity under Article 5 of the
17 Statute. The Trial Chamber imposed a single sentence of 27 years' of
18 imprisonment.
19 The Trial Chamber found that Krajisnik participated in a joint
20 criminal enterprise whose objective was to ethnically recompose the
21 territories under the control of the Bosnian Serb republic by drastically
22 reducing the proportion of non-Serbs through the commission of various
23 crimes. It held that there was a leadership component of the JCE, based
24 in the Bosnian Serb capital of Pale, which included Krajisnik,
25 Radovan Karadzic, and other Bosnian Serb leaders. The local component of
Page 720
1 this JCE was based in the municipalities of the Bosnian Serb republic and
2 maintained close links with the Pale-based leadership.
3 The Prosecution filed its appeal against the sentence on
4 26 October, 2006
5 counsel on the matter of the JCE filed a supplemental appeal brief on his
6 behalf of 7 April, 2008
7 8th June, 2007
8 21st August, 2008, and three evidentiary hearings took place on
9 3, 5, and 11 November, 2008.
10 I will start with the grounds of appeal raised by Amicus Curiae,
11 followed by Krajisnik's grounds of appeal, and JCE counsel's
12 supplementary challenges. Finally, I will address the appeals on the
13 sentence jointly.
14 In his first ground of appeal, Amicus Curiae argues that
15 Krajisnik's right to a fair trial was infringed and that he was
16 ineffectively assisted by counsel. First, he asserts that counsel
17 Brashich failed to hand over the case material to counsel Stewart in a
18 timely and orderly manner and did not provide a significant work product.
19 The Appeals Chamber finds, however, that the Trial Chamber
20 adjusted the pace of the trial to allow for numerous non-sitting days.
21 Thus, the Appeals Chamber is not convinced that counsel Brashich's
22 failure to hand over the case material to counsel Stewart in a timely and
23 orderly manner resulted in a miscarriage of justice.
24 Furthermore, while the Appeals Chamber accepts that the work
25 product handed over from counsel Brashich to counsel Stewart was not in
Page 721
1 as good state as it should have been, the new Defence team benefitted
2 from some of the work done by the Brashich team, in particular the
3 pre-trial brief. Moreover, the new Defence team was allotted a
4 substantial legal aid and time for pre-trial preparation. Thus, the
5 Appeals Chamber concludes that Krajisnik suffered no prejudice as a
6 result of the failures of counsel Brashich.
7 Turning to the alleged failures of counsel Stewart, Amicus Curiae
8 alleges that counsel Stewart was manifestly unprepared to commence the
9 trial in February 2004 and committed a grave error in failing to apply
10 for deferral prior to the commencement of the trial. The Appeals Chamber
11 finds, however, that the Stewart Defence team was not grossly unprepared
12 to commence trial in February 2004, and Amicus Curiae has not
13 demonstrated that the insufficient preparation of the Defence team at the
14 beginning of the trial resulted in a miscarriage of justice.
15 Amicus Curiae further submits that counsel Stewart failed to
16 adequately review the material disclosed to the Defence and that he had
17 read only 1 or 2 per cent of the case papers when the trial started and
18 no more than 15 per cent of the documents 13 months into the trial. The
19 Appeals Chamber notes that, as acknowledged by counsel Stewart, he
20 delegated the review of the documents to his team as appropriate.
21 Therefore, Amicus Curiae has not demonstrated that the Defence's review
22 of the disclosure material, imperfect though it may have been, has
23 occasioned a miscarriage of justice.
24 Furthermore, Amicus Curiae contends that counsel Stewart failed
25 to obtain proper instructions from Krajisnik prior to the commencement of
Page 722
1 the trial to determine an appropriate defence strategy. Counsel Stewart
2 testified on appeal, however, that he had a specific understanding of the
3 defence strategy prior to trial, based in large part on instructions from
4 Krajisnik. Hence, this argument is dismissed.
5 Amicus Curiae further alleges that the inadequacies in the
6 preparation of the Defence case led co-counsel Ms. Loukas and case
7 manager Ms. Cmeric to withdraw from the case in 2005, which further
8 diminished the effectiveness of Krajisnik's representation. The Appeals
9 Chamber notes that the leaving team members were immediately replaced and
10 that lead counsel Stewart remained on the case until the end of the
11 trial. This argument is thus dismissed.
12 Amicus Curiae also asserts that the Trial Chamber accorded the
13 Defence a manifestly inadequate amount of time to prepare the final brief
14 by 18 August 2006; however, the Defence was informed as early as
15 26 April 2005
16 close of the case. This allegation is thus dismissed.
17 Amicus Curiae further argues that the Trial Chamber breached the
18 fairness of Krajisnik's trial by impermissibly restricting his right to
19 examine the Prosecution witnesses. However, Amicus Curiae fails to
20 detail how the Trial Chamber abused its discretion under Rule 90(F) of
21 the Rules. This contention is thus dismissed.
22 Amicus Curiae also submits that the Defence was not accorded
23 sufficient time and resources to prepare for cross-examination of the
24 Trial Chamber witnesses. However, the Appeals Chamber notes that the
25 Defence received the material related to these witnesses reasonably in
Page 723
1 advance of their testimony and that these witnesses were well-known to
2 Krajisnik and his Defence. Similarly, the Appeals Chamber rejects
3 Amicus Curiae's argument that the Defence was accorded insufficient time
4 to cross-examine Trial Chamber witness, Mrs. Plavsic, as the Defence only
5 used three-quarters of the two hours and 40 minutes allotted by the
6 Trial Chamber to cross-examine her.
7 Amicus Curiae further alleges that the Trial Chamber erred in its
8 decision denying Krajisnik's request for self-representation. He does
9 not show, however, that a request for self-representation must always be
10 honoured in the absence of persistent obstructionist conduct on the part
11 of the accused. This sub-ground of appeal is thus dismissed.
12 Amicus Curiae further argues that the Judges of the recomposed
13 Trial Chamber erred in law by ordering the resumption of trial although
14 it was obvious that Judge Hanoteau, the Substitute Judge, had not
15 acquired the requisite familiarity with the case. Amicus Curiae,
16 however, fails to bring forward any evidence that Judge Hanoteau had not
17 sufficiently familiarised himself with the case to be able to be properly
18 discharge his functions. This sub-ground is dismissed.
19 For the foregoing reasons, the Appeals Chamber dismisses
20 Amicus Curiae's assertion that Krajisnik's trial was unfair. That said,
21 the Appeals Chamber notes that certain aspects of the conduct of the
22 trial were not free from defects and may have created an appearance of
23 unfairness. However, based on a holistic assessment of the trial record
24 and the additional evidence on appeal, the Appeals Chamber is not
25 satisfied that Amicus Curiae has shown that these defects amount to a
Page 724
1 miscarriage of justice which would undermine the fairness of the trial
2 received by Krajisnik. This ground of appeal is therefore dismissed in
3 its entirety.
4 In the second ground of appeal, Amicus Curiae submits that the
5 Trial Chamber erred in law by failing to provide a sufficiently reasoned
6 judgement and to give reasons as to why certain witnesses or exhibits
7 were found credible and others not. The Appeals Chamber notes, however,
8 that the Trial Chamber specifically states that it had carefully
9 deliberated on the evidence presented to it. The impugned passages
10 merely stress the fact that the Trial Chamber could not present and
11 discuss all the evidence in the judgement, a statement which cannot by
12 itself be equated with a failure to examine the evidence in question.
13 Hence, the second ground of appeal raised by Amicus Curiae is rejected.
14 In his third ground of appeal, Amicus Curiae argues that the
15 Trial Chamber did not correctly identify the participants in the JCE and
16 could thus not conclude beyond a reasonable doubt as to the existence of
17 a common objective between them and Krajisnik. The Appeals Chamber finds
18 that the Trial Chamber indeed erred in failing to specify whether all or
19 only some of the local politicians, militaries, police commanders, and
20 paramilitary leaders referred to in paragraph 1087 of the trial judgement
21 were JCE members. This sub-ground is thus granted.
22 Amicus Curiae further alleges that the Trial Chamber erroneously
23 failed to make findings as to when the murders formed part of the JCE and
24 could thus be imputed to Krajisnik. In this context, the Appeals Chamber
25 first notes that it is satisfied that the Trial Chamber found that
Page 725
1 Krajisnik shared the intent to commit the original crimes of deportation,
2 forcible transfer, and persecution based on these crimes from the
3 beginning of the JCE.
4 With respect to the expanded crimes of murder, extermination, and
5 persecution, based on crimes other than deportation and forcible
6 transfer, the Trial Chamber generally found that they were added to the
7 JCE after leading members of the JCE were informed of them, took no
8 effective measures to prevent their recurrence, and persisted in the
9 implementation of the common objective, thereby coming to intend these
10 expanded crimes. The Appeals Chamber notes, however, that the
11 Trial Chamber made only scarce findings, if at all, on these
12 requirements.
13 Therefore, the Appeals Chamber is not able to conclude with the
14 necessary preciseness how and at which point in time the common objective
15 of the JCE included the expanded crimes and consequently on what basis
16 the Trial Chamber imputed those expanded crimes to Krajisnik. Neither
17 the Appeals Chamber nor an accused can be required to engage in
18 speculation on the meaning of the Trial Chamber's findings - or lack
19 thereof - in relation to such a central element of Krajisnik's individual
20 criminal responsibility as the scope of the common objective of the JCE.
21 Thus, the Appeals Chamber finds that the Trial Chamber committed
22 a legal error in failing to make the findings necessary for Krajisnik's
23 conviction in relation to the following expanded crimes, which were not
24 included in the original common objective of the JCE: Persecution,
25 Count 3, with the exception of the underlying acts of deportation and
Page 726
1 forcible transfer; extermination, Count 4; and murder, Count 5.
2 Consequently, the Appeals Chamber grants this sub-ground of
3 appeal in part and dismisses its remainder. Krajisnik's convictions for
4 expanded crimes under Counts 3, 4, and 5 are thus quashed.
5 Amicus Curiae further argues that the Trial Chamber erred in law
6 by holding that a JCE member can be criminally responsible for the acts
7 of persons who were not members of the JCE and who potentially did not
8 even know of the existence or purpose of the JCE. Amicus Curiae avers
9 that the Trial Chamber erred in departing from the Brdjanin appeal
10 judgement, and that it failed to find the existence of a link between
11 Krajisnik and the crimes.
12 The Trial Chamber held that a JCE member could incur liability
13 for crimes committed by principal perpetrators procured by a JCE member
14 to commit crimes which further the common objective. The Appeals Chamber
15 is satisfied that this standard corresponds in substance to the standard
16 outlined in the Brdjanin appeal judgement which was rendered after the
17 trial judgement in the present case. Amicus Curiae therefore fails to
18 show an error by the Trial Chamber in this respect.
19 The Appeals Chamber observes, however, that on many occasions the
20 Trial Chamber erred in failing to reach any finding on the link between
21 the principal perpetrators of the original crimes of deportation,
22 forcible transfer, and persecution based on these crimes and the JCE
23 members. As a result, the Appeals Chamber concludes that the
24 Trial Chamber made only findings that the following original crimes were
25 committed by JCE members by using principal perpetrators in furtherance
Page 727
1 of the common purpose: Persecution by way of deportation, Count 3, in
2 Bratunac, Zvornik, Sanski Most, Banja Luka, Bijeljina, and Prnjavor;
3 persecution by way of forcible transfer, Count 3, in Bijeljina, Bratunac,
4 Zvornik, Bosanska Krupa, Sanski Most, Trnovo, and Sokolac; deportation,
5 Count 7, in Bratunac, Zvornik, Sanski Most, Banja Luka, Bijeljina, and
6 Prnjavor; and inhumane acts by way of forcible transfer, Count 8, in
7 Bijeljina, Bratunac, Zvornik, Bosanska Krupa, Sanski Most, Trnovo, and
8 Sokolac.
9 Krajisnik's convictions for the remainder of the original crimes
10 under Counts 3, 7, and 8 are thus quashed.
11 Furthermore, Amicus Curiae alleges that the Trial Chamber erred
12 in law by failing to make the relevant findings on deportation with
13 regard to each municipality. The Appeals Chamber finds that the
14 Trial Chamber indeed failed to always perform the required analysis of
15 whether a sufficient de facto or de jure border was crossed and that the
16 findings on deportation from Bijeljina, Bratunac, Sanski Most must fall.
17 Consequently, Krajisnik's convictions for these crimes are quashed.
18 However, the Appeals Chamber is of the view that the Trial Chamber found
19 that forced displacements of persons across de jure state borders
20 occurred in the municipalities of Zvornik, Banja Luka, Prnjavor,
21 amounting to deportation. This ground of appeal is thus granted in part.
22 Next, Amicus Curiae submits that the Trial Chamber erred in law
23 when finding Krajisnik guilty of forcible transfer as other inhumane
24 acts, without finding that the displacements were of sufficient gravity
25 to constitute other inhumane acts. The Appeals Chamber finds that the
Page 728
1 Trial Chamber indeed erroneously failed to find that the instances of
2 forcible transfer were sufficiently serious to amount to other inhumane
3 acts under Article 5(i) of the Statute. This error does not, however,
4 invalidate the judgement, as the acts of forcible transfer were of
5 similar seriousness to the instances of deportation. Thus, this ground
6 of appeal is dismissed.
7 Amicus Curiae further submits that the Trial Chamber erred in
8 fact when making findings with respect to Krajisnik's hierarchical
9 positions in the Bosnian Serb leadership. The Appeals Chamber is
10 satisfied, however, that the Trial Chamber exercised caution in assessing
11 the relevant witness evidence and it is not convinced that the additional
12 evidence provided by Radovan Karadzic is sufficient to undermine the
13 extensive evidence supporting the Trial Chamber's findings.
14 Amicus Curiae further argues that the Trial Chamber's findings
15 regarding Krajisnik's powers and authority are at odds with its
16 conclusion that he lacked effective control. The Appeals Chamber
17 disagrees, as the Trial Chamber correctly held that effective control is
18 not a required element of JCE liability, the only form of responsibility
19 found applicable to Krajisnik.
20 Next, Amicus Curiae submits that the Prosecution breached
21 Rule 90(H)(ii) to the Rules when it failed to put to Krajisnik during his
22 testimony material matters on which it relied to prove his guilt and
23 which were in contradiction with his evidence. The Appeals Chamber
24 finds, however, that Rule 90(H)(ii) of the Rules was not intended to
25 apply to an accused testifying as a witness in his own case.
Page 729
1 Furthermore, the Appeals Chamber is satisfied that Krajisnik was well
2 aware of the Prosecution's case against him. Thus, this ground of appeal
3 is dismissed.
4 Amicus Curiae further alleges that the Trial Chamber erroneously
5 applied the law on cumulative convictions and requests the
6 Appeals Chamber to quash the convictions on Count 3, persecution, or
7 alternatively on Counts 5, murder; Count 7, deportation; and Count 8,
8 inhumane acts. The Appeals Chamber recalls, however, that the Tribunal's
9 jurisprudence on intra-Article 5 cumulative convictions is
10 well-established. Therefore, the Appeals Chamber, by majority,
11 Judge Guney dissenting, finds that the Trial Chamber did not err in
12 cumulating the convictions for persecutions with the convictions for
13 other crimes against humanity based on the same facts. This ground of
14 appeal is dismissed.
15 I will now turn to Momcilo Krajisnik's appeal.
16 In relation to Krajisnik's submissions that the Trial Chamber
17 violated his fair trial rights, the Appeals Chamber recalls the some of
18 these arguments were already dismissed under the grounds of appeal
19 submitted by Amicus Curiae. Similarly, Krajisnik does not show any error
20 by the Trial Chamber in relation to the remainder of his submissions.
21 Krajisnik further argues that the Trial Chamber erred in law and
22 in fact in finding that he was a JCE member, as he and the other alleged
23 members of the JCE were simply individuals carrying out tasks within
24 their lawful competencies, as part of the functioning of the state
25 administration and in accordance with the constitution. The
Page 730
1 Appeals Chamber dismisses his arguments as irrelevant to determine
2 whether the actions of the concerned persons resulted in statutory
3 criminal liability.
4 Furthermore Krajisnik's challenges to the Trial Chamber's
5 findings on the creation of Serb autonomous regions and districts, on the
6 creation of the Bosnian Serb Assembly, and on the SDS instructions of
7 19 December 1991
8 the consolidation of Bosnian Serb legal authority, and on the support of
9 arming activities are dismissed. His arguments, however, are irrelevant,
10 undeveloped, unsupported, fail to address the remaining evidence the
11 Trial Chamber relied on, or challenge factual findings on which the
12 conviction does not rely.
13 For similar reasons, the Appeals Chamber dismisses Krajisnik's
14 challenges relating to the Trial Chamber's findings on the Bosnian Serb
15 government and judiciary; the Bosnian Serb Presidency; the armed forces;
16 the MUP, Ministry of Internal Affairs; Crisis Staffs; War Presidencies
17 and war commissions; and Krajisnik's style of leadership.
18 I will now turn to the supplementary challenges related to the
19 issue of JCE made by JCE counsel on behalf of Krajisnik.
20 First, JCE counsel challenge the legitimacy of JCE liability and
21 contest the finding in the Tadic appeal judgement that JCE existed under
22 customary international law. The Appeals Chamber considers, however,
23 that JCE counsel advance no cogent reasons why it should depart from its
24 holding that the Statute provides, albeit not explicitly, for JCE as a
25 form of criminal liability. This sub-ground is thus dismissed.
Page 731
1 JCE counsel further submits that the Trial Chamber erred in
2 finding that JCE is a form of commission under Article 7(1) of the
3 Statute, rendering nugatory the other modes of liability. However, since
4 the other farms of liability are distinguishable from JCE, the latter
5 does not render the other forms of liability under the Article 7(1)
6 nugatory. This sub-ground is also dismissed.
7 Next, JCE counsel submits that Krajisnik lacked proper notice
8 that he faced JCE liability, a concept that allegedly did not arise until
9 1999 and has expanded since then to include high-level officials with
10 only tenuous connections to the crimes. The Appeals Chamber recalls,
11 however, that when it interprets the JCE doctrine it does not create new
12 law; instead, it merely identifies what the proper interpretation of that
13 doctrine has always been, even though not previously expressed that way.
14 This does not contravene the nullum crimen sine lege principle and this
15 sub-ground is thus dismissed.
16 JCE counsel further asserts that Krajisnik's political speeches
17 cannot, as a matter of law, constitute a contribution to the JCE because
18 they were protected under his right to freedom of speech. The
19 Appeals Chamber disagrees. What matters in terms of law is that an
20 accused lends a significant contribution to the commission of the crimes
21 involved in the JCE. Beyond that, the law does not foresee specific
22 types of conduct which per se could not be considered a contribution to
23 the common purpose. Hence, this part of the appeal is dismissed.
24 Similarly, the Appeals Chamber rejects JCE counsel's submissions
25 that the groups of 1.008 and 1.001 detainees from Manjaca camp were not
Page 732
1 moved by JCE members, but rather under the supervision of the UNHCR. The
2 fact that the displaced persons were accompanied by international forces
3 did not render their displacement lawful.
4 The Appeals Chamber accepts in part, however, JCE counsel's
5 supplementary arguments with respect to the identity of the rank and file
6 JCE members, Krajisnik's responsibility for the expanded crimes, and the
7 lack of findings on a link between the physical perpetrators and the JCE
8 members for some of the original crimes. The remainder of the grounds of
9 appeal raised by JCE counsel is dismissed.
10 The Appeals Chamber will now turn to the appeals of the sentence
11 by Amicus Curiae, Krajisnik, and the Prosecution.
12 Amicus Curiae argues that the penalty is excessive, given that
13 Krajisnik did not directly perpetrate or order any of the crimes. He
14 adds that the Trial Chamber wrongly considered the acts of others in
15 calculating Krajisnik's sentence. The Appeals Chamber finds, however,
16 that the fact that Krajisnik did not directly perpetrate or order any of
17 the crimes does not necessarily entail that Krajisnik should be entitled
18 to a lesser sentence. As to the allegation that the Trial Chamber
19 referred to acts of others in calculating Krajisnik's sentence, his
20 argument clearly fails. This ground of appeal is thus rejected.
21 Krajisnik submits that the Trial Chamber did not consider the
22 general practice of sentencing in the former Yugoslavia; erred by not
23 analysing the gravity of the crimes and the aggravating circumstances
24 separately; and imposed a penalty that seemed to be a reprisal. The
25 Appeals Chamber recalls that reference to the general practice regarding
Page 733
1 prison sentences in the courts of the former Yugoslavia is not binding.
2 In the instant case, the Trial Chamber complied with its obligation to
3 consider this issue. This argument is thus rejected.
4 With regard to Krajisnik's argument that the Trial Chamber failed
5 to assess the gravity of the crimes and the aggravating circumstances
6 separately, the Appeals Chamber notes that the Trial Chamber indeed
7 distinguished between aggravating circumstances on the one hand and the
8 gravity of the crimes on the other, albeit considering them under the
9 same heading. This argument is therefore rejected.
10 Krajisnik further contends that the Trial Chamber should have
11 considered his efforts and his involvement in peace negotiations, as well
12 as the fact that he acted within his legal authority in mitigation of his
13 sentence. However, Krajisnik fails to demonstrate that these factors
14 would have been accorded sufficient weight to have any impact on the
15 sentence, especially considering the fact that the Trial Chamber granted
16 only very limited weight in mitigation to the factors explicitly
17 considered. Therefore, this challenge is also rejected and Krajisnik's
18 appeal with respect to the sentence is dismissed in its entirety.
19 The Prosecution raises a single ground of appeal, arguing that a
20 life sentence is the only sentence proportionate to the overall magnitude
21 of Krajisnik's crimes. The Prosecution does not point, however, to any
22 element which would have been omitted by the Trial Chamber in determining
23 the sentence. It merely argues that the sentence does not properly
24 reflect the gravity of Krajisnik's criminal conduct and fails to ensure
25 sufficient retribution and deterrence. The Appeals Chamber cannot
Page 734
1 conclude that the sentence imposed completely fails to reflect the
2 seriousness of Krajisnik's criminal conduct or that it does not express
3 the outrage of the international community and that it is grossly
4 insufficient to ensure deterrence. The Prosecution's first sub-ground is
5 therefore dismissed.
6 Next, the Prosecution argues that no mitigating factors justified
7 the imposition of anything less than life imprisonment.
8 The Appeals Chamber notes that the Trial Chamber found that while
9 factors by themselves did not constitute mitigating circumstances, taken
10 together, these factors amounted to personal circumstances of a kind
11 which may be accorded some, although very limited, weight in mitigation.
12 The Appeals Chamber is puzzled by this finding. A factor is either a
13 mitigating circumstance or it is not. If it is not, it cannot be taken
14 in mitigation even when considered with other factors which do not
15 constitute mitigating circumstances. The Trial Chamber should have
16 specified which elements constituted in its view mitigating
17 circumstances. Nevertheless, even if the Appeals Chamber were to find
18 that the Trial Chamber erred in retaining some of the above-mentioned
19 factors in mitigation, it would still not be clear that such error had
20 any impact on the sentence imposed, as the Trial Chamber itself stated
21 that it accorded very limited weight in mitigation to these factors.
22 Thus, the Appeals Chamber cannot conclude that the Prosecution has
23 demonstrated an error which invalidates the decision on the sentence.
24 The Prosecution's ground of appeal on sentencing is thus dismissed in its
25 entirety.
Page 735
1 In conclusion, the Appeals Chamber has dismissed the
2 Prosecution's appeal and has granted Amicus Curiae's and Krajisnik's
3 appeals in part. While Krajisnik's convictions for three counts of the
4 indictment, that is, deportation, forcible transfer and persecution based
5 on these crimes, remain intact, the Trial Chamber erroneously imputed
6 criminal liability to Krajisnik for two other counts and most of the
7 crimes mentioned in parts 4 and 5 of the trial judgement.
8 The Appeals Chamber recalls that in some cases, the circumstances
9 have warranted it to ascertain itself whether the Trial Chamber's
10 findings on their own or in combination with relevant evidence sustain
11 the conviction. Given the factually complex circumstances of the case,
12 an appellate assessment of the crimes for which the Trial Chamber
13 erroneously imputed criminal liability to Krajisnik would require the
14 Appeals Chamber to re-evaluate the entire trial record. However, an
15 appeal is not a trial de novo and the Appeals Chamber cannot be expected
16 to act as a primary trier of fact, as it is not, as a general rule, in
17 the best position to assess the reliability and credibility of the
18 evidence.
19 While Rule 117(C) of the Rules vests the Appeals Chamber with
20 discretion to order a retrial in appropriate circumstances, the
21 Appeals Chamber is not obliged, having identified an error, to remit the
22 case for retrial. An order for retrial is an exceptional measure to
23 which resort must necessarily be limited. The Appeals Chamber notes that
24 the convictions for the majority of the crimes, of which Krajisnik had
25 been found guilty, have been quashed. However, convictions for
Page 736
1 persecutions, deportation, and forcible transfer have been upheld and the
2 gravity of these crimes requires a severe and proportionate sentence.
3 Therefore, in the circumstances of this particular case, the
4 Appeals Chamber considers that it is not in the interests of justice to
5 remit the case for further proceedings.
6 As a result, the Appeals Chamber has determined the adequate
7 sentence for the crimes which were correctly imputed to Krajisnik.
8 I will now read out the disposition of the appeal judgement.
9 Mr. Krajisnik will you please rise.
10 [The appellant stands up]
11 JUDGE POCAR: Here is the disposition.
12 For the foregoing reasons, the Appeals Chamber, pursuant to
13 Article 25 of the Statute and Rules 117 and 118 of the Rules; noting the
14 respective written submissions of the parties and the arguments they
15 presented at the appeal hearing on 21 August 2008; sitting in open
16 session; grants sub-ground 3(A) submitted by Amicus Curiae; grants in
17 part sub-grounds 3(B), 3(E), 3(G), and grounds 4 and 7 submitted by
18 Amicus Curiae; dismisses, Judge Guney dissenting in relation to
19 ground 10, the remainder of the grounds of appeal submitted by
20 Amicus Curiae; grants the third ground of appeal of the Dershowitz brief
21 in part; dismisses the remainder of Krajisnik's appeal; reverses
22 Krajisnik's convictions under Counts 4 and 5; reverses Krajisnik's
23 convictions under Counts 3, 7, and 8; dismisses the Prosecution's ground
24 of appeal related to the sentence; sentences Krajisnik to 20 years'
25 imprisonment to run as of this day, subject to credit being given under
Page 737
1 Rule 101(C) and Rule 107 of the Rules for the period that Krajisnik has
2 already spent in detention since his arrest on 3 April 2000; orders in
3 accordance with Rule 103(C) and Rule 107 of the Rules, that
4 Momcilo Krajisnik is to remain in the custody of the Tribunal pending the
5 finalisation of arrangements for his transfer to the State where his
6 sentence will be served.
7 Judge Mohamed Shahabuddeen appends a separate opinion.
8 Mr. Krajisnik, you may now sit down.
9 [The witness sits down]
10 JUDGE POCAR: Mr. Registrar, would you please distribute copies
11 of the appeal judgement to the parties and Amicus Curiae.
12 Thank you very much. This concludes the appellate proceedings in
13 this case. The Appeals Chamber will now rise.
14 --- Whereupon the hearing adjourns at 1.16 p.m.
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25