Karadzic Trial Set To Continue.

These recent developments throw the proceedings into uncertainty as the 64 year old defendant refuses to leave his holding cell until given enough time to get ready for his own defense. Since Karadzic is representing himself and this creates a problem.

Modern western legal procedure is based on the adversarial method of trial; the accused is defended against a hostile prosecutor before an impartial judge.

However with Karadzic's maneuvering this system breaks down into an inquisitorial trial, the accused is neither present nor has representation present. In effect Karadzic is treating the whole preceding as a kangaroo court.

This leaves the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) with two choices: continuing the trial in Karadzic's absence, or appointing a defense lawyer, which could cause a delay of several months as that person acquaints himself with the case.

The prosecutor Alan Tieger described Karadzic, in the opening remarks, as a "supreme commander" responsible for the deaths of 100,000 people and the displacement of another 2 million.

Karadzic may attend a procedural hearing this coming Tuesday to see how the trial will continue without him.

Written by Seamus Esparza