Bizarre end to Bosnian war crimes appeal trial as defendant drinks poison to protest against ruling
The Hague — A wartime commander of Bosnian Croat forces said on Wednesday he "drank poison" seconds after UN appeals judges upheld his 20-year sentence for war crimes against Bosnian Muslims. Slobodan Praljak, 72, tilted back his head and took a swing from a flask or glass as the judge read out the verdict. "I just drank poison," he said. "I am not a war criminal. I oppose this conviction." Praljak sat back down and slumped in his chair, a lawyer who was in the courtroom at the time said. The presiding judge suspended the hearing and called for a doctor. An ambulance was at the building and paramedics went to the courtroom. A court guard said Praljak was still "being treated" more than hour after he said he drank poison. Croatian general Marinko Kresic told Croatian state TV he had spoken to the wife of another defendant, Milivoje Petkovic, who was in The Hague. "She confirmed that he drank the poison and that he is in a very grave health condition," he said. The court said it would...
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