Radovan Karadzic Refuses to Enter a Plea

By: Torwoli Dzuali · August 29, 2008 · Filed Under Criminal Law, International Law · Add Comment

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, today refused to enter a plea to charges against him as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) commenced proceedings in the Hague. Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade on July 21, 2008 after thirteen years in hiding. He is facing eleven counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws of war in Bosnia-Hercegovina between April 1992 and July 1995.

It is alleged that he ordered and/or failed to prevent the;

Persecution of Bosnian Muslim (Bosniak) and Bosnian Croat civilians

Targeting of political leaders, intellectuals and professionals

Unlawful deportation and transfer of civilians

Unlawful shelling of civilians

Unlawful appropriation and plunder of property

Destruction of homes and businesses

Destruction of places of worship

Karadzic, who is conducting his own defence, is challenging the legitimacy of the ICTY (a United Nations tribunal) and has referred to the court as a

bastardised judicial system [which] is representing itself falsely as a court of the international community, when it is in fact a court of NATO whose aim is to liquidate me.

When asked to enter a plea today, Karadzic responded:

I will not plead.

In accordance with court rules, Judge Iain Bonomy then proceeded to enter a plea of “not guilty” to all eleven charges oh his behalf.

After this declaration Mr Karadzic called out to the judge:

May I hold you to your word?

When the baffled judge inquired as to “which word?”, Karadzic responded

That I’m not guilty !!

The judge replied with a smile, telling Karadzic that time would tell.

The next hearing has been set for Sept. 17.

Radovan Karadzic

Image: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Post tags: International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslav, Radovan Karadzic, Torwoli Dzuali

Law is Cool – Podcast #7

By: Law is Cool · January 16, 2008 · Filed Under Podcasts · Comments Off

Show Notes

0:26 Thomas and Omar catch up on the first semester of law, and the absolutely true horror stories of law school

3:10 Thomas and Omar discuss essay option classes

3:50 Thomas and Omar talk about motivation, actually doing assigned work, and study techniques

4:37 Omar talks about the CLawBie Award, and Marie Winfield’s focus on Global Conference on the Prevention of Genocide in Montreal

5:10 Stanley Khaing of UWO interned with Bridges Across Borders in Cambodia working on reconciliation with the Khmer Rouge

Ralph Nader 6:28 Lindsey Aufricht, President of International Law Association at Western, shares her experiences at the Global Conference on the Prevention of Genocide

7:29 Lindsey describes her work in chambers for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)

9:45 Ralph Nader describes law as the catalytic profession, because they are not as easily intimidated and they can bring evidence from other fields to advance justice in society

10:32 Ralph Nader speaks on a public philosophy of life and creating a higher estimation of your significance

11:15 Ralph Nader speaks on Canada’s modest self-perception, and his book Canada Firsts, how Canada ranks highest in the world on dozens of issues

12:41 Omar and Thomas introduce Melissa Kluger, whose site was the runner-up for our CLawBie award

13:35: Melissa tells us how the idea for Precedent magazine developed

14:21 Melissa speaks on the transition from blog to magazine, and how it was useful in building relationships with readers

Melissa Kluger 15:14 Melissa shares some of the upcoming content in Precedent magazine, and examples of law and style coming together

16:21 Melissa explains how Precedent magazine can be useful to law students

17:00 Lawyers and students interested in the magazine are encouraged to read the material, and contact them with ideas if interested in getting involved Melissa [at] lawandstyle[dot]ca

17:36 Omar thanks everyone who has made LawIsCool possible: Gary Schlee at Centennial College, Donna Papacosta of Trafalgar Communications, and Terry Fallis and David Jones of Inside PR

18:14 Thomas signs off