Furundzija Case

UNITED NATIONS International Tribunal for the Case No.: IT-95-17/1-T Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of Date: 10 December 1998 International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 Original: English IN THE TRIAL CHAMBER Before: Judge Florence Ndepele Mwachande Mumba, Presiding Judge Antonio Cassese Judge Richard May Registrar: Mrs. Dorothee de Sampayo Garrido-Nijgh Judgement of: 10 December 1998 PROSECUTOR v. ANTO FURUND@IJA JUDGEMENT The Office of the Prosecutor: Ms. Brenda Hollis Ms. Patricia Viseur-Sellers Ms. Michael Blaxill Counsel for the Accused: Mr. Luka Miseti} Mr. Sheldon Davidson Case No.: IT-95-17/1-T 10 December 1998 i CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 A. The International Tribunal ...................................................................................................... 2 B. Procedural Background ........................................................................................................... 2 C. The Amended Indictment........................................................................................................15 II. THE SUBMISSIONS OF THE PARTIES ......................................................... 17 A. The Prosecution .......................................................................................................................17 1. Factual Allegations ...............................................................................................................17 2. Legal Arguments...................................................................................................................18 (a) The Individual Criminal Responsibility of the Accused .....................................................18 (b) Violations of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 (torture)...................18 (c) Violations of Additional Protocol II of 1977 (outrages upon personal dignity including rape) .................................................................................................................19 B. The Defence .............................................................................................................................20 III. THE EXISTENCE OF AN ARMED CONFLICT............................................. 21 A. The Prosecution Case ..............................................................................................................21 B. The Defence Case.....................................................................................................................24 C. Factual Findings ......................................................................................................................24 IV. THE LINK BETWEEN THE ARMED CONFLICT AND THE ALLEGED FACTS ................................................................................................................. 26 A. The Prosecution Case ..............................................................................................................26 B. The Defence Case.....................................................................................................................27 C. Factual Findings ......................................................................................................................27 V. THE EVENTS AT THE BUNGALOW AND THE HOLIDAY COTTAGE IN NADIOCI........................................................................................................ 28 A. Introduction.............................................................................................................................28 B. Background and Circumstances..............................................................................................29 1. Witness A.............................................................................................................................29 2. Witness D.............................................................................................................................30 C. Events in the Large Room .......................................................................................................31 D. Events in the Pantry ................................................................................................................34 Case No.: IT-95-17/1-T 10 December 1998 ii E. The Re-opening of the Proceedings .........................................................................................37 1. Background and Reasons for Re-Opening the Proceedings.....................................................37 2. Summary of the Relevant Evidence .......................................................................................39 3. The Amicus Curiae Briefs .....................................................................................................43 4. Findings................................................................................................................................43 F. Inconsistencies in the Testimony of Witness A........................................................................44 G. The Evidence of Witness D and Witness E..............................................................................46 H. Factual Findings ......................................................................................................................47 1. The Arrest.............................................................................................................................47 2. In the Large Room ................................................................................................................48 3. In the Pantry .........................................................................................................................49 VI. THE LAW............................................................................................................ 50 A. Article 3 of the Statute (Violations of the Laws or Customs of War) .....................................50 B. Torture in International Law..................................................................................................51 1. International Humanitarian Law ............................................................................................51 2. International Human Rights Law...........................................................................................54 3. Main Features of the Prohibition Against Torture in International Law...................................56 (a) The Prohibition Even Covers Potential Breaches...............................................................56 (b) The Prohibition Imposes Obligations Erga Omnes ............................................................58 (c) The Prohibition Has Acquired the Status of Jus Cogens ....................................................58 4. Torture Under Article 3 of the Statute....................................................................................61 5. The Definition of Torture ......................................................................................................61 C. Rape and Other Serious Sexual Assaults in International Law..............................................65 1. International Humanitarian Law ............................................................................................65 2. International Human Rights Law...........................................................................................67 3. Rape Under the Statute..........................................................................................................67 4. The Definition of Rape..........................................................................................................68 5. Individual Criminal Responsibility ........................................................................................74 D. Aiding and Abetting ................................................................................................................74 1. Introduction ..........................................................................................................................74 2. Actus Reus............................................................................................................................75 (a) International Case Law.....................................................................................................75 (i) Introduction..................................................................................................................75 (ii) Nature of Assistance.....................................................................................................77 (iii) Effect of Assistance on the Act of the Principal.............................................................83 (b) International Instruments ..................................................................................................87 (c) Conclusion .......................................................................................................................90 3. Mens Rea..............................................................................................................................91 (a) International Case Law.....................................................................................................91 (b) International Instruments ..................................................................................................92 (c)

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