Karadzic tells war crimes trial: I refuse to enter plea

Published on Friday 29 August 2008 21:40

THE United Nations tribunal for the former Yugoslavia entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader, to war crimes and genocide charges yesterday after he refused to plead.

At his second plea hearing, before his trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the 1992-95 Bosnian war, Karadzic refused to enter pleas for all of the 11 charges against him in front of the presiding judge, Iain Bonomy, of Scotland.

"I will not plead in line with my standpoint as regards to this court," Karadzic answered to the first charge, referring to his refusal to recognise the court's legitimacy. Asked whether his position applied to all charges, Karadzic said: "Absolutely, yes."

"In other words, your plea is one of not guilty to the indictment as a whole," Mr Bonomy said.

In a moment of levity, Karadzic asked Mr Bonomy: "May I hold you to your word … that I'm not guilty?" The judge answered: "We shall see in due course, Mr Karadzic."