The trial of former state security service officials postponed today as the first accused, the Detention Unit physician noted in his report, still felt ’physically and mentally exhausted and extremely tired’. The physician went on to say that Stanisic’s health might improve in a few weeks time, at least as far as Stanisic’s mental health is concerned


Presiding judge Robinson stated for the record today that the accused Jovica Stanisic failed to appear before the court and was not following the trial via video conference link in the Detention Unit. He then read the report of Dr Falke, the UN Detention Unit physician. According to the report, the accused still appeared to be ’extremely tired’ and was ’physically and mentally very exhausted’ because of the blood loss he suffered as a consequence of his colitis. The detention unit physician concluded that his fitness to stand trial was still limited.

As a consequence, the trial was adjourned today although it had been announced yesterday that it would proceed with the evidence of a new witness, the second to be called by the prosecution. The prosecutor agreed that the trial should not go on in the present circumstances adding that he was frustrated with this development. The case progresses too slowly. The prosecution brings the witnesses to The Hague only to have them return to their homes without giving evidence.

Judge Robinson did not hide his displeasure, noting that for the past two months the Trial Chamber would come into the courtroom every day to sit for ’five to ten minutes’, with no indications things would improve. Some hope for a positive development was found in Dr Falke’s report where he says that Stanisic’s mental health ’might improve’ in a few weeks.

If there is no progress, the presiding judge said, the Trial Chamber will take steps to make it possible for the trial to go on smoothly. There are two accused on trial, he noted, and not just one; Jovica Stanisic, former chief of the Serbian state security service, is joined in the dock by Franko Simatovic, former Special Operations Unit commander. They are both charged with crimes committed by members of various special units run by the Serbian state security service in Croatia and BH from 1991 to 1995.

Despite all the problems, the trial is, at least formally, scheduled to continue next Tuesday.

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