Case No. IT-99-36-T
IN TRIAL CHAMBER II
Before:Registrar:
Mr. Hans Holthuis
Decision of:
27 May 2003
PROSECUTOR
v.
RADOSLAV BRDJANIN
___________________________________
DECISION ON PROSECUTION’S SEVENTEENTH MOTION FOR PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR VICTIMS AND WITNESSES
___________________________________
The Office of the Prosecutor:
Ms. Joanna Korner
Mr. Andrew Cayley
Counsel for the Accused:
Mr. John Ackerman
Mr. David Cunningham
TRIAL CHAMBER II ("Trial Chamber") of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 ("the Tribunal"):
BEING SEISED OF the "Prosecution’s Seventeenth Motion for Protective Measures for Victims and Witnesses" ("Motion"), filed confidentially by the Office of the Prosecutor ("Prosecution") on 19 May 2003 in which the Prosecution seeks protective measures for one witness, namely BT-90, who is to testify at trial and whose name is identified in the Motion;
NOTING that the protective measures sought are the assignment of a pseudonym and leave to testify in closed session;
NOTING that the Prosecution provides in the Motion as reasons for the request for protective measures, inter alia, that the witness frequently travels to and through Republika Srpska and the incriminating nature of the witness’ testimony, such that to disclose publicly the identity of the witness could threaten his or her safety;
NOTING the "Addendum to Prosecution’s Eleventh Motion for Protective Measures for Victims and Witnesses" ("Addendum"), filed confidentially by the Prosecution on 12 September 2002 and related to the security assessment in the municipalities covered by the Indictment;
NOTING the standing objections of Counsel for Radoslav Brdjanin ("Accused"), expressed during the hearings of 1 July 20021 and 22 November 2002,2 to testimony being heard in closed session;
NOTING that Counsel for the Accused does not object to the assignment of pseudonyms;
RECOGNISING the Trial Chamber’s duty to analyse the protective measures sought and determine their compatibility with the rights of the Accused, and the Trial Chamber’s duty to balance the right of the Accused to a public hearing against the need to accord appropriate protection to victims and witnesses;
CONSIDERING that the Prosecution has demonstrated that it is necessary for the testimony of the witness concerned to be held in closed session as the substance of the testimony might reveal the identity of the witness and that the incriminating nature of the proposed testimony could jeopardise the witness’ safety and that of his or her family;
CONSIDERING that the protective measures requested strike an appropriate balance between the rights of the Accused and the protection of victims and witnesses;
RECALLING that the relevant orders contained in paragraph 65 of the "Decision on Motion by Prosecution for Protective Measures", issued by the Trial Chamber on 3 July 2000, are not limited by date and continue in force throughout the proceedings or until further order;
FOR THE FOREGOING REASONS
PURSUANT TO Articles 20, 21 and 22 of the Statute of the Tribunal and to Rules 75 and 79 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence;
HEREBY ORDERS THAT:
Done in French and English, the English version being authoritative.
Dated this 27th day of May 2003,
At The Hague
The Netherlands
____________________________
Carmel Agius
Presiding Judge
[Seal of the Tribunal]
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