Trial of Mladić's wife begins in Belgrade

The wife of Gen. Ratko Mladic appeared before a Belgrade court today as her trial on charges of illegal weapons possession began. The former military leader of Bosnian Serbsh as been a fugitive from justice for more than a decade, indicted by the Hague Tribunal for war crimes and genocide. Trial of Mladic's wife begins in Belgrade Meanwhile his wife Bosiljka, who resides in Belgrade, was indicted after three pistols and a rifle, along with 60 bullets and 26 hunting rifle cartridges were found to be illegally in her apartment. Bosiljka Mladic told the court today that the weapons and ammunition found in the apartment belonged to her husband, and that they were stored in a wardrobe in the bedroom. She said Mladic ordered her and the children "not to approach the wardrobe". "Noting was touched. It was covered in dust," Bosiljka Mladic said. She also told the judges that her husband left their home in 2001 when Slobodan Milosevic was arrested, and added that Mladic "suffered three strokes, and had to undergo treatment". Bosiljka Mladic said she launched a legal procedure to have her husband declared dead because she believed that was the case. "If he were alive, he would've found a way to contact us," she said. She also complained to the court that police harassed her during their searches of the apartment, and that one officer pointed a rifle at her chest during the last search. "They have been following me for the past five years - when I take my granddaughter to the kindergarten, when I travel to visit my family in Macedonia, when I go to the pool in the spa they come after me," Bosiljka Mladic stated. Her son, Darko Mladic, refused to testify, calling on his right not to testify against his mother. The trial is set to continue on July 13. In June of last year Bosiljka Mladic was brought before a judge for a hearing, after which the prosecution issued its indictment. If found guilty, she could face one to ten years in prison. Her lawyer Milos Saljic said previously that the weapons found in the apartment in 2008 belonged to her fugitive husband as "trophies", and that they were also there during previous searches of the premises. Saljic described the indictment as "political". Meanwhile, opposition Serb Radical Party (SRS) activists, and several top party officials, are expected to show up in court today in order to support Bosiljka Mladic. Bosiljka Mladic in the court today (Beta)

Trial of Mladić's wife begins in Belgrade

Meanwhile his wife Bosiljka, who resides in Belgrade, was indicted after three pistols and a rifle, along with 60 bullets and 26 hunting rifle cartridges were found to be illegally in her apartment.

Bosiljka Mladić told the court today that the weapons and ammunition found in the apartment belonged to her husband, and that they were stored in a wardrobe in the bedroom.

She said Mladić ordered her and the children "not to approach the wardrobe".

"Noting was touched. It was covered in dust," Bosiljka Mladić said.

She also told the judges that her husband left their home in 2001 when Slobodan Milošević was arrested, and added that Mladić "suffered three strokes, and had to undergo treatment".

Bosiljka Mladić said she launched a legal procedure to have her husband declared dead because she believed that was the case.

"If he were alive, he would've found a way to contact us," she said.

She also complained to the court that police harassed her during their searches of the apartment, and that one officer pointed a rifle at her chest during the last search.

"They have been following me for the past five years - when I take my granddaughter to the kindergarten, when I travel to visit my family in Macedonia, when I go to the pool in the spa they come after me," Bosiljka Mladić stated.

Her son, Darko Mladić, refused to testify, calling on his right not to testify against his mother.

The trial is set to continue on July 13.

In June of last year Bosiljka Mladić was brought before a judge for a hearing, after which the prosecution issued its indictment.

If found guilty, she could face one to ten years in prison.

Her lawyer Miloš Šaljić said previously that the weapons found in the apartment in 2008 belonged to her fugitive husband as "trophies", and that they were also there during previous searches of the premises.

Šaljić described the indictment as "political".

Meanwhile, opposition Serb Radical Party (SRS) activists, and several top party officials, are expected to show up in court today in order to support Bosiljka Mladić.