The defence of the former commander of the Republic of Srpska Army, Ratko Mladić, nicknamed the “butcher of Bosnia”, who has been convicted of war crimes, requested that the final verdict be postponed until both defence attorneys and client could be present in person in the courtroom, as defence lawyer Dragan Ivetić is being treated in hospital.
“Under these unforeseen, unfortunate and extreme circumstances […] Ratko Mladić’s defence respectfully requests the Appeals Chamber to stop the sentencing hearing and adjourn until both defence counsel could attend the trial in person with the client,” defence counsel Branko Lukić said in a statement.