A U.N. war crimes tribunal Thursday ordered a Bosnian Croat commander’s early release from prison after clearing him of responsibility in a 1993 massacre, a decision that could make it harder to convict high-ranking officials accused of masterminding ethnic violence in the Balkans.
Overturning a ruling by a lower chamber, the five-member panel of judges dismissed 16 of 19 war crimes charges against Gen. Thiomir Blaskic, exonerating the 43-year-old of ordering ethnic bloodshed in Bosnia. The judges upheld lesser charges of illegal detainment and inhumane treatment of Muslim prisoners. His sentence was reduced from 45 to nine years.
A summary of the 300-page ruling read out in court found that prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Blaskic planned or even knew about war crimes being committed by his forces.
Great.
The appeals chamber also said that it had taken into account Blaskic’s good behavior, clear prior record, poor health, voluntary surrender and his young children.
“The trial chamber also erred in failing to consider the appellant’s real and sincere remorse,” the ruling said.
Apparently, if you keep your cell clean after being arrested for the wholesale slaughter of hundreds, you get a pass.
In short, Hitler’s real failing as a person was that he was born 60 years too early and neglected to have kids.
BTW- this is who John Kerry wants to turn Iraq over to…
rea
You know, John, it’s easy to complain about a court acquitting a defendant for lack of evidence, if you haven’t seen the evidence.
Or are you of the school of thought that thinks innocent people never get prosecuted?
Frankly, I find it reassuring that the court was willing actually to analyze the evidence and acquit the guy, if that’s what the evidence required. That’s what a court is supposed to do–that’s why we have courts.
And you call yoruself a conservative, for crying out loud.
Dean
Rea:
News reports from last year indicate that Milosevic is likely to be acquitted of genocide charges. If so, wouldn’t that mean that the US went to war over Kosovo due to a lie?
I mean, no evidence of killing fields in Kosovo, and now no verdict of genocide in either Kosovo or Bosnia?
Worse, we went to war w/ Serbia without UN support.
Would you still be glad that the court had analyzed the evidence and acquitted the guy?
Or maybe there’s something wrong w/ a system where someone who clearly has committed genocide (Srebenica, anyone?) can walk.
I often wonder what the chances are that ol’ Adolf, canny enough never to sign a piece of paper, and commanding loyalty from his subordinates, would have walked if *he* had gone on trial.
Because comments like yours lead me to conclude that it’s the process that matters to some, not the outcome. The means justify the ends, so to speak….
M. Scott Eiland
Thank God these clowns weren’t running the show at Nuremberg.
Ken Hahn
If Saddam is turned over to the UN or the ICC, he will be back in Iraq running for President before the decade is out.