KSC Weekly Press Briefing on 21 March
Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 21 March, at 14:30. During this briefing, the KSC Spokespersons will provide a short update on the latest developments in the judicial proceedings before the KSC, as well as on other public activities of the Court. Journalists will have the opportunity to ask questions. Pre-registration is required to attend each briefing. To pre-register, please send an email with name and affiliation to [email protected]. Deadline for pre-registration is every Thursday at 12:00. The Zoom details will be shared following pre-registration. Recordings of the update provided during the Weekly Press Briefings will be made available on the KSC YouTube Channel.
Pjetër Shala case: Defence’s motion to reopen its case rejected
On 19 March 2024, Trial Panel I rejected the Defence's request to reopen its case based on alleged exculpatory material related to a witness. Pjetër Shala’s Defence claimed that this material was made available by the SPO too late.
Although it found that the SPO did not comply with its disclosure obligations regarding the mentioned material, the Panel determined that no prejudice was caused to the Defence and that the evidence of that witness is not necessary for the determination of the truth. The Panel also rejected the Defence’s request to suspend the current deadline for the submission of the final trial briefs and the statement on the impact of the alleged crimes on victims participating in the proceedings (all due by 25 March).
More details in the decision.
Thaçi et al. trial adjourned for the week/resumes on 25 March
Following the completion of the SPO's 52nd witness testimony, the trial in the Thaçi et al. case has adjourned for the day and the week. This trial will resume on Monday, 25 March, at 09:00.
Thaçi et al. trial: testimony of 52nd witness resumes
The SPO witness W04571 resumes the testimony this morning. He is currently being cross-examined by Hashim Thaçi's defense team.
Thaçi et al. trial: new start time tomorrow (20/03)
Please be informed that the hearing tomorrow (20 March) in the trial of Thaçi et al. will begin at 10:00 and end at 16:30.
Thaçi et al. trial: SPO calls its 52nd witness
The new SPO witness is W04571, who is giving testimony via video-link. According to the SPO summary presented in court, this witness is a Kosovo Albanian, who was arrested and detained by the KLA members in or around August 1998.
This is the 52nd SPO witness so far.
Thaçi et al. trial: modified court schedule for today (19/03/2024)
Please be informed that today's lunch break in the Thaçi et al. trial started significantly earlier than usual. Nevertheless, the trial is set to continue at 14:30 and conclude at 16:30 as planned.
Thaçi et al. trial: new SPO witness (51st so far) takes the stand
The new SPO witness began testifying in the Thaçi et al. trial this morning. This is witness W04446, whose brother, according to the Prosecution, was arrested by the KLA members during the relevant period, and his remains were never found.
Please note that the hearings for both today and tomorrow are anticipated to conclude at 16:30.
Thaçi et al: new SPO witness testifying/today’s hearing to last longer
The SPO's 50th witness is Claude Cahn, whose testimony, according to the SPO, will be related to documented human rights abuses of Roma in Kosovo during his employment with the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) in July 1999.
Please be informed that today’s hearing is set to last until 16:30 (or until 17:15 in the delayed feed online).
Thaçi et al. trial: 49th SPO witness begins testimony
Protected witness W04811 is the new SPO witness, whose testimony has commenced this morning. According to the summary read by the SPO in court, this testimony of this witness is related to a victim who was killed after being taken and detained by KLA members in the Llap/Lab zone.