| Karadžić appears at status conference |
| 3 November 2009 | 19:35
| Source:
B92 |
THE HAGUE --
Former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadžić appeared in the Hague Tribunal courtroom today for a status conference.
 | Radovan Karadžić (Beta)
|
This was his first appearance since the start of his trial on October 26. The Hague-based UN war crimes court has charged him with war crimes and genocide allegedly committed during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Karadžić told the judges today that he needs more time to prepare his defense, and said he had not been able to go through "1.3 million pages" of prosecution documents.
He also claimed that his "fundamental rights have been violated", and asked the court for ten more months to prepare for the trial.
Presiding Judge O-Gon Kwon said that "the court had already determined the defendant had had ample time to prepare", according to the BBC
The trial was adjourned with the judge stating he would rule later in the week on whether to impose a defense attorney on Karadžić.
Ahead of the proceedings today, Hague Tribunal spokeswoman Nerma Jelačić said that it is "good that Karadžić decided to attend the status conference, but that the trial chamber will have the last word in the issue".
“The fact is that his presence will make it easier for the court to look at what further options to take, but as it was already stated, the accused does not control the case, it is in the hands of the trial chamber,” Jelačić said.
“Whatever he has to say will be considered, but the decision is not his,” she told B92.
After the prosecution finished presenting its opening statement, the trial could not be continued with the presentation of evidence against Karadžić until he or his representative appeared in court.
According to B92’s sources, Karadžić was expected to meet with his attorney Goran Petronijević before the status conference.
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