Deferral of defense evidence presentation could delay verdict against former KLA leaders

The first months of the following year were seen as crucial for understanding the epilogue of the trial against former KLA leaders.

But, a warning made by Hashim Thaçi's lawyer, Luka Misetic, that they will seek an extension of the deadlines to conclude the case on their part, may also delay the decision.

In a response to television from the Specialist Chambers, they said that they have not yet received any letters from the defense teams.

“The Thaçi Defence stated during the hearing that it would file such a request. There is no public written record on this matter to date. The Trial Panel will decide on any such request in accordance with the law and regulations. In fact, throughout the trial, the Trial Panel has reminded the parties of time management in an effort to ensure that the proceedings are as expeditious as possible. The Trial Panel has indicated that the targeted date of 14 November for the Defence teams to present their evidence in this case is only an indication of the Trial Panel’s assessment of the length of the Defence case and may be accelerated or extended as necessary. The Trial Panel has also told the parties that they should be prepared to file their final court filings before 22 December, but has also emphasized that the judges will set a precise date on this matter once the Defence case is more advanced.”

And monitors of the work of the Special Rapporteur in The Hague say that any such request will affect the postponement of the final decision.

"Of course, every extension of the deadline also affects the postponement of the final decision, so to speak, because all these actions are chain actions that, so to speak, extend the deadline of each other," said Amer Alija from the Humanitarian Law Center.

"From the beginning when this deadline was set, it was known that it was not a definitive deadline and could change depending on the needs of the process, and since this need has already arisen, as the defense has announced, they will submit a request, and if it is convincing, it will be approved by the trial panel and consequently the deadlines will change accordingly, which means that the final file will also be postponed to the beginning of next year, which will postpone the final deadline for making a decision in this case," said Blendina Veliqi from IDK.

The next hearing in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selim and Jakup Krasniqi will resume on October 27, with the hearing of witnesses proposed by Thaçi's defense.

The former KLA leaders have been in custody in The Hague since 2020, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, until their trial begins in April 2023. /RTVDukagjini/