http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050513-1007-milosevic-contempt.ht
ml
Milosevic witness found guilty of contempt
REUTERS, 10:07 a.m. May 13, 2005
AMSTERDAM - The Hague tribunal found a defence witness for Slobodan
Milosevic guilty of contempt of court on Friday after he refused to testify
when the former Yugoslav president was ill last month.
Kosta Bulatovic, a Kosovo Serb leader, refused last month to be
cross-examined by prosecutors without Milosevic in court, prompting the
three-judge panel to charge him with contempt. He pleaded not guilty to the
charge earlier this month.
The U.N. court sentenced Bulatovic for contempt to four months in jail but
suspended the sentence for two years due to his health problems.
'What the respondent's conduct amounted to was a determination and
declaration that he would give evidence only on his own conditions,' the
judges said in their ruling.
'He thus defied the authority of the court and created the risk that the
authority of the trial chamber would be undermined and the administration of
justice would be brought into disrepute.'
Doctors advised Milosevic to rest for a week at the time Bulatovic was on
the stand, saying the 63-year-old's high blood pressure could worsen his
heart condition. Bulatovic later completed his evidence when Milosevic was
well again.
The prosecution's attempt to question Bulatovic without the accused in court
is part of a drive to speed up the marathon trial, repeatedly delayed by
Milosevic's poor health.
Last year, the U.N. tribunal in The Hague assigned two lawyers to defend
Milosevic to try to prevent more delays.
Milosevic later won back his right to lead his own defence case on appeal,
but the lawyers remain on hand to take over when he is sick, even though
they have said they cannot properly defend the accused as he refuses to
cooperate with them.
Charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during the
bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Milosevic does not
recognise the court and has declined to enter a plea. Pleas of 'not guilty'
were entered for him.
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