IN THE TRIAL CHAMBER
Before:
Judge Alphons Orie, Presiding
Judge Amin El Mahdi
Judge Joacquín Martín Canivell
Registrar:
Mr Hans Holthuis
Decision of:
15 September 2003
PROSECUTOR
v.
DARKO MRDJA
_________________________________
DECISION ON THE DEFENCE MOTION FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND VARIATION OF SCHEDULING ORDER
Office of the Prosecutor:
Mr. Alan Tieger
Mr. Timothy J. Resch
Counsel for the Defence:
Mr. Vojislav M. Dimitrijevic
Mr. Otmar Wachenheim
TRIAL CHAMBER I (the "Trial Chamber") of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 (the "International Tribunal");
NOTING the "Scheduling Order" issued in this case on the 1 August 2003 (the "Scheduling Order"), whereby the Trial Chamber ordered that the parties were to file their sentencing briefs and statements of witnesses on whom they intend to rely by 8 September 2003 and that a sentencing hearing shall be held on Monday 22 September 2003;
BEING SEIZED of the "Defence Motion for Appointment of Expert Witness and Medical Examination" filed by the Defence for Darko Mrdja on 28 August 2003 (the "Motion" and the "Defendant");
BEING SEIZED of the "Defence Motion to Amend Scheduling Order", filed on 28 August 2003, whereby the Defence requested that the Scheduling Order be amended in this case to allow the Defendant a full and fair opportunity to present mitigating evidence at his sentencing hearing;
NOTING the "Prosecution’s Response to Defence Motion for Appointment of Expert Witness and Medical Examination", filed on 2 September 2003 (the "Response");
NOTING that, at the hearing on 24 July 2003, the Defendant pleaded guilty to Count 2 (murder as a violation of the laws or customs of war) and to Count 3 (inhumane acts as a crime against humanity) and that the Trial Chamber, being satisfied that the plea was voluntary, informed and unequivocal, and that there was sufficient factual basis for the crimes and the Defendant’s participation in it, entered a finding of guilt;
NOTING the Amended Indictment filed on 4 August 2003, whereby Count 1 (extermination as a crime against humanity) was deleted;
NOTING that the Defence requests that:
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that the Defence is arguing in particular that:
NOTING that, according to the Defence, all these circumstances, if proven, may be relevant to show both duress and diminished mental capacity, both of which would constitute mitigating evidence that should be considered prior to the imposition of sentence;
NOTING the indication from the Defence that the expert it intends to call is ready and willing to examine the Defendant;
NOTING that the Prosecution does not generally object to the relief requested in the Motion, but reserves the right to challenge any of the above mentioned factors should the Defence rely upon such factors in the sentencing briefs or during the meeting insofar as, according to the Prosecution, these factors do not have a basis in fact and nor do they identify issues relevant to mitigation of sentence or in support the Motion;
NOTING furthermore that the Prosecution understands the aim of the Motion to be limited to sentencing and if this understanding is not correct, it would oppose the Motion;
NOTING that the Prosecution is not opposed to the appointment of Professor Gallwitz if the Registrar accepts his credentials as satisfactory under the Registry’s criteria for approval as a medical expert;
NOTING that the Prosecution requests, in the event the Trial Chamber grants the Motion, that:
NOTING Article 24 (1) of the Statute of the International Tribunal (the "Statute") which provides that "[i]n imposing the sentences, the Trial Chambers should take into account such factors as the gravity of the offences and the individual circumstances of the convicted person”;
CONSIDERING that pursuant to Rule 101(B) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence (the "Rules"), “[i]n determining the sentence, the Trial Chamber shall take into account the factors mentioned in Article 24, paragraph 2 of the Statute, as well as such factors as […] (ii) any mitigating circumstances […]”;
NOTING that pursuant to Rule 74bis of the Rules, the Trial Chamber "may […] order a medical, psychiatric or psychological examination of the accused" and, in such a case, the Registrar shall entrust this task to one or several experts whose names appear on a list previously drawn up by the Registry and approved by the Bureau;
CONSIDERING that the Defence does not intend to rely on the expert’s findings to argue the existence of a possible lack of mental responsibility but requires the assistance of a psychological expert in order to be able to "effectively present such evidence at the sentencing hearing"1,
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION that this meaning was confirmed by the Defence during a meeting on 11 September 2003 with the Senior Legal Officer, in the presence of the Prosecution;
CONSIDERING therefore that this evidence is sought to support the mental state of the Defendant as mitigating factor with respect to sentencing;
CONSIDERING that the Defendant’s diminished mental responsibility is relevant to the sentence to be imposed;2
CONSIDERING that it is in the interests of justice that the Trial Chamber be in possession of all factors that would assist its evaluation of the appropriate sentence to be imposed on the Defendant;
CONSIDERING that it is appropriate, in those circumstances, to order the appointment of a psychological expert;
CONSIDERING, as a consequence, that it is necessary to vary the time limits set by the Trial Chamber in its Scheduling Order;
NOTING that the Prosecution is seeking full transparency of the communications between the expert and the Defendant to the extent relevant to the findings of the expert;
CONSIDERING that such request for transparency is legitimate in view of the reservations expressed by the Prosecution;
CONSIDERING however that full transparency will be guaranteed if 1) a full report of the communications between the expert and the parties is ordered and 2) counsel are instructed to communicate with the expert exclusively in writing through the intermediary of the Registrar;
CONSIDERING furthermore that if the Trial Chamber orders a psychological examination of the Defendant, the expert appointed for that purpose is independent and acts in accordance with the mandate set out in the Order of the Chamber;
CONSIDERING therefore that the three above mentioned requests from the Prosecution are not justified;
FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED REASONS,
PURSUANT to articles 24 (2) of the Statute and to Rules 74bis, 101(B) and 127 of the Rules;
HEREBY grants the Motion and ORDERS that:
INSTRUCTS the Registrar to entrust this task to Professor Adolf Gallwitz, should the Registrar be satisfied that Professor Adolf Gallwitz meets the criteria stipulated in Rule 74bis of the Rules to have his name included on the list;
Done in English and French, the English version being authoritative.
Done this 15th Day of September 2003.
At The Hague,
The Netherlands.
_____________
Alphons Orie
Presiding Judge
[Seal of the Tribunal]
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