The defence team for General Ante Gotovina has proposed in its submission to the Hague-based UN tribunal that the tribunal convene an oral hearing to announce its judgement in the event the judgment to be passed enables the immediate release of the Croatian general from the detention centre in Scheveningen, according to sources at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
If during its deliberation the trial chamber concludes that the judgement will result in the immediate release of General Gotovina from custody, General Gotovina calls for the oral announcement of the judgment in the interest of justice, according to the defence brief, submitted by attorneys Luka Misetic and Gregory Kehoe.
The lawyers recall that rules of the UN court make it possible for this institution to announce judgements orally and to subsequently explain them in writing.
Gotovina has been in the Scheveningen detention centre since December 2005.
