Judge presents dissenting opinion in Šešelj case

The head of the Hague trial chamber in the process against Vojislav Seselj, Jean Claude Antonetti, assessed that a partial acquittal was possible in the case. "I disagree with the decision of the other two members of the chamber that a partial acquittal was not possible. It would be paradoxical for the accused to present evidence, if the prosecutor offered no or insufficient evidence for some charges," the judge said after Seselj's motion for acquittal due to a lack of evidence was dismissed. Judge presents dissenting opinion in Seselj case He said that he expressed his dissent in the decision. "An acquittal due to lack of evidence from the prosecution exists in Anglo-Saxon law. In such a situation, I believe, and the majority in the chamber disagreed, that the chamber can grant a partial or full acquittal," he stated. Antonetti noted that in the case against Slobodan Milosevic, the trial chamber passed acquittals in the section of the indictment related to Bosnia-Herzegovina, assessing that the evidence was insufficient. He also said that Seselj had been in custody for over eight years, and that the standard of investigation and evidence must be faster and stricter. "It is unfair to continue the trial with incomplete evidence after the prosecutor's office had so much time for an investigation," the judge noted. Antonetti said he believed that some crimes in the indictment were sufficiently proven, while others were not. Judge Jean Claude Antonetti (ICTY)

Judge presents dissenting opinion in Šešelj case

He said that he expressed his dissent in the decision.

"An acquittal due to lack of evidence from the prosecution exists in Anglo-Saxon law. In such a situation, I believe, and the majority in the chamber disagreed, that the chamber can grant a partial or full acquittal," he stated.

Antonetti noted that in the case against Slobodan Milošević, the trial chamber passed acquittals in the section of the indictment related to Bosnia-Herzegovina, assessing that the evidence was insufficient.

He also said that Šešelj had been in custody for over eight years, and that the standard of investigation and evidence must be faster and stricter.

"It is unfair to continue the trial with incomplete evidence after the prosecutor's office had so much time for an investigation," the judge noted.

Antonetti said he believed that some crimes in the indictment were sufficiently proven, while others were not.