Ratko Mladic forcibly removed from court

Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military commander, was forcibly removed from the courtroom at his trial in The Hague on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity on the 4 July 2011 after refusing to enter a plea.

General Mladic repeatedly interrupted the trial’s Dutch lead justice, Alphons Orie, before shouting 'this is not a court, who are you?' as Mr Orie began reading the indictment. After removing Gen Mladic from the courtroom, Mr Orie entered pleas of 'not guilty' on his behalf.

Gen Mladic’s outbursts and deliberate shows of disdain for Judge Orie seemed to be part of a deliberate strategy to draw out the proceedings and to attack the prestige and the legitimacy of the court.

ESO: Background information: Mladic refuses to enter plea at tribunal http://www.europeansources.info/record/mladic-refuses-to-enter-plea-at-tribunal/

BBC News, 4.7.11: Ratko Mladic, ex-Bosnian Serb general, led from court http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14012057

Deutsche Welle, 4.7.11: War crimes suspect Mladic ejected from court after creating scene http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15208392,00.html

France24, 4.7.11: Court enters not guilty plea as Mladic disrupts hearing http://www.france24.com/en/20110704-mladic-ejected-court-judge-pleads-not-guilty-behalf

Spiegel Online International, 4.7.11: Belligerent Mladic Removed from UN Hearing http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,772304,00.html

RNW, 4.7.11: Mladic removed from courtroom http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/mladic-removed-courtroom

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