The trial panel of the Basic Chamber of the Specialist Chambers has rejected the submission of the defense of Hashim Thaçi, Rexhep Selim, Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi to remove from the indictment all incidents that, according to the defense, fell outside the period of the armed conflict.
Lawyer Amer Alija said that if the defense were to win the motion in this case, 5 percent of the indictment would be dismissed.
"June 20 is the last day when criminal acts can be qualified as war crimes. After June 21, the indictment against Thaçi and others, or the Prosecution has accused him until September 98, but Thaçi and others are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. War crimes can only be committed during the war period, crimes against humanity can be committed both during the war and after the war. But war crimes require certain elements to be met, there must be an extensive and systematic attack on the civilian population. If the defense were to win, to eliminate these periods where the prosecution has charged that crimes occurred even within these two periods, of course it is a relief, we can say that 5 percent of the indictment is dismissed," he said on KTV's "60 Minutes" show.
Alija added that the defense has filed a motion assessing the weakest points at this stage of the court proceedings. He added that 2/3 of the main hearing has already been completed in the case against Thaçi and others.