NETHERLANDS: In a trial that is increasingly taking on the style of the Keystone Cops, The Hague war crimes court this week again delayed the case of Slobodan Milosevic because they can find no witnesses to defend him, writes Chris Stephen in The Hague
Until this summer, the former Yugoslav president had a witness list of 1,631 people wanting to defend him against war crimes and genocide charges.
But the decision in August to force him to accept a lawyer, British barrister Steven Kay, rather than run his own defence, has seen witnesses melt away.
This week Mr Kay told the court that 20 of his first 23 witnesses have told him they will not be coming to court.
With few witnesses to call, Mr Kay was forced to ask judges to delay for a month to give him time to find more people to testify - the seventh delay so far this year. Since February, the court has held just four days of sittings.
"Groups of witnesses have banded together and have stated they are not prepared, under the conditions of the assignment of counsel, to come to the tribunal and testify," Mr Kay complained.
Judges ruled last month that the defendant's high blood pressure, which have already lost four months of court time, mean he is not fit to run his own defence.
In protest, Mr Milosevic has refused to co-operate with Mr Kay, and his witnesses apparently feel the same way.
They include a former Canadian ambassador to Yugoslavia, James Blisset, who wrote to the court that the trial "had taken on all the characteristics of a Stalinist show trial." Another witness, former US State Department official George Kenny, also wrote to the court, complaining that the judges conduct was "inherently unfair, amounting to little more than a political show trial." Aides of Mr Milosevic say a total of 265 witnesses have pulled out of giving evidence.
The 63-year-old former premier insists he will not cooperate with an imposed lawyer, even one trying to defend him against charges that include genocide and crimes against humanity.
This caused the patience of the judges to crack with presiding judge Patrick Robinson telling him: "Your conduct, I have to say, borders on the petulant and puerile."
While some of the charges, notably genocide, seem not to have been proved, it is extremely unlikely that Mr Milosevic will be found innocent on all counts. With a long sentence a near certainty, the former Balkan strongman may see little point in speeding the court on its way.
"Milosevic is trying to derail the whole process," said Judith Armatta of the Coalition for International Justice. "It's a game of chicken. I am pleased that the judges are being firm with the statements they have made, but really, I wish they had made them in the beginning."
Mr Milosevic, appearing in his trademark smart dark suit and with his familiar white swept back hair, exuded calm this week in contrast to the fury of the judges, saying: "I think the right to defend oneself is a right of principle."