"It`s a different kind of testimony."
The Hague (ANTARA News/Xinhua-OANA) - Ratko Mladic was back in court on Wednesday (April 10) at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) after two days of absence, but was removed rapidly for yelling at the first witness of the day.

The trial of the former Bosnian Serb Army commander was adjourned indefinitely on Tuesday after 71-year-old Mladic was not able to appear in court due to medical reasons.

According to Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz of the UN court in The Hague, Mladic is one of the main people responsible for the deaths of more than 7,000 Muslims after the fall of the Srebrenica enclave in 1995.

One survivor of the massacre was in court on Wednesday. The Chamber approved the Prosecution`s request that a deposition of protected witness RM346, a survivor of mass killing at Branjevo Farm, should be taken on Wednesday morning, with or without Mladic, because a longer wait would be too much for the traumatized man.

"It`s a different kind of testimony," ICTY spokesperson Magdalena Spalinska told Xinhua. "During a deposition the accused does not have to be present. It`s not such a common thing, but it`s part of our procedure. Otherwise, the normal cross-examination could only happen in absence of Mladic if he signed a waiver-form, if he agreed that the trail went ahead in his absence."

After Mladic yelled that the witness was "lying and made up his story," presiding judge Alphons Orie decided to let Mladic be removed from the court because of misbehavior, not for the first time since the start of the trial in May 2012.

"Mladic will be able to be present again at the trial when the testimony of the next witness will start. It is expected that this current testimony will last until later today and that the next witness will start later on," Spalinska said.

Mladic has complained about his health since the start of his trial. "Fortunately this break was not very long," said Spalinska. "Mr. Mladic was back very quickly. There were no more reasons for his absence."

"The judgment in the case of Mladic is expected somewhere half 2016," the ICTY spokesperson said.

Mladic, arrested on May 26, 2011, faces 11 charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws or customs of war during the 1992 to 1995 conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
(U.C003)

Reporter: Jesse Wieten
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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