Bosnia war crime suspect who drank poison in court pronounced dead

Hours after drinking what he claimed to be poison at the war crimes court for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Bosnian Croat war crime suspect Slobodan Praljak has been confirmed dead.

The death of the former commander who apparently drank poison in court after his 20-year sentence was upheld was first reported by Croatian state TV and later confirmed by the tribunal’s spokesperson.

Reports say the suspect while in court drank from a small bottle, upon hearing that his 20-year jail sentence had been upheld by the court declaring: “What I am drinking now is poison”.

Read also: BOSNIA: War crime suspect drinks poison in court after 20-yr sentence is upheld

“I’m not a war criminal,” Praljak shouted at the presiding judge.

His move forced the judge to suspended the hearing and called for a doctor.

Praljak’s action forced the tribunal to suspend the ruling of its last judgement in the appeal case involving six Bosnian Croat political and military leaders who were convicted in 2013 of persecuting, expelling and murdering Muslims during Bosnia’s war.

However, the judges continued reading out the final verdict, while also upheld the jail terms against the other three defendants.

 

 

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