The war crimes trial of former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic, accused of genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will begin on May 14 when the prosecution is expected to make an opening statement, while the first witness is scheduled to take the stand on 29 May, it was said at a status conference in the case against Mladic who during the conference showed photographs of the deceased members of his family.
The prosecution plans to hear the testimonies of some 400 witnesses of whom 140 will be heard in court while the rest will give written testimonies. The prosecution also plans to introduce 28,000 items of evidence, the status conference heard.
Mladic is accused of genocide in Srebrenica, terrorising the residents of Sarajevo, persecuting civilians throughout Bosnia, and taking UN members hostage.
At today's conference, Mladic again complained that the tribunal was unjust and that it was a NATO-run tribunal. He then started to show photographs of the deceased members of his family.
Mladic was arrested in Serbia last May after nearly 16 years of hiding and was immediately transferred to The Hague.
The next status conference in the case is set for March 29.
