‘Butcher of Bosnia’ jailed for life in genocide trial
Tribunal judges say ruthless Bosnian Serb forces directed by former commander Ratko Mladic carried out crimes ‘among the most heinous known to humankind’
The Hague — UN judges on Wednesday sentenced former Bosnian Serbian commander Ratko Mladic to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of genocide and war crimes in the brutal Balkans conflicts over two decades ago. But the man called "The Butcher of Bosnia" was not present in court to hear the final verdict, having been dragged out of the court after loudly accusing the judges of "lying". His son and lawyers said he planned to appeal. Judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) found Mladic guilty on 10 counts including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity such as murder and deportation. He was acquitted of one charge of genocide in certain municipalities. About 100,000 people were killed and 2.2-million displaced in the 1992-95 war when ethnic rivalries tore Yugoslavia apart. Judges said ruthless Bosnian Serb forces under Mladic’s command carried out "mass executions" and showed "little or no respect for human life or dignity". "For...
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