Salih Mustafa

Trial Panel composition

Judges Mappie Veldt-Foglia (presiding), Roland Dekkers, Gilbert Bitti, Vladimir Mikula (reserve judge)

Specialist Prosecutor's Office

Cezary Michalczuk, Silvia D’Ascoli, Filippo De Minicis

Defence Counsel

Julius von Bóné (counsel), Betim Shala (co-counsel)

Victims' Counsel

Anni Pues (counsel), Annebrecht Vossenberg (co-counsel)

Number of witnesses in court

28 witnesses – SPO: 13 (1 recalled during rebuttal), Defence: 15

Number of written witness testimonies

2 (SPO)

Number of participating victims 

8

Number of trial days in court

53

Pre-trial period length

11 months 22 days

Trial judgment deliberation phase length (between the end of trial until the pronouncement of trial judgment)

3 months

Total time before Basic Court (from transfer to the KSC until the trial judgment)

26 months 22 days

Court of Appeals Panel composition

Judges Michèle Picard (presiding), Kai Ambos and Nina Jørgensen

Specialist Prosecutor's Office

Cezary Michalczuk, Nico Baarlink

Defence Counsel

Julius von Bóné (counsel), Betim Shala (co-counsel)

Victims' Counsel

Anni Pues (counsel), Annebrecht Vossenberg (co-counsel)

Appeal judgment deliberation phase (from the parties' last submissions until the pronouncement of the appeal judgement)

1 months and 13 days

Appeal case length (the period between the filing of the notices of appeal untill the pronunciation of the appeal judgment)

10 month 12 days

14/03/2024

Mustafa filed a request for protection of legality pursuant to Article 48(6)–(8) of the Law and Rule 193 of the Rules challenging the appeal judgment from 14 December 2023.

29/07/2024

Supreme Court Panel partially granted Mustafa's request and annulled the appeal judgment insofar as it related to his 22-year sentence of imprisonment. Case sent back to the Appeals Panel under Rule 194(1)(b) to consider reducing his sentence.

9-10/12/2024

Mustafa and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office filed separate requests for protection of legality pursuant to Article 48(6)–(8) of the Law and Rule 193 of the Rules, both challenging the Court of Appeal's 10 Sep 2024 decision imposing a 15-year sentence.

25/02/2025

Supreme Court Panel dismissed both requests in their entirety, finding that neither Mustafa nor the Prosecution had demonstrated a violation of law or substantial violation of the procedures warranting protection of legality.

Supreme Court Panel 

Judges Ekaterina Trendafilova (presiding), Christine van den Wyngaert and Daniel Fransen

Specialist Prosecutor's Office

Cezary Michalczuk, Nico Baarlink

Defence Counsel

Julius von Bóné (counsel)

Victims' Counsel

Anni Pues (counsel), Annebrecht Vossenberg (co-counsel)

27/09/2024

Mustafa filed a referral pursuant to Article 49(3) of the Law alleging several violations of his fundamental rights across Trial, Appeal, and Supreme Court proceedings.

17/04/2025

Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court found no violation of the Kosovo Constitution or the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; part of the Referral was declared inadmissible.

24/04/2025

Mustafa filed a referral pursuant to Article 49(3) of the Law, claiming that his 15-year sentence was disproportionate and violated his fundamental rights.

09/07/2025

Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court declared the referral inadmissible, finding it did not disclose any appearance of a violation of Mustafa’s constitutional rights.

Constitutional Court Panel 

Judges Vidar Stensland (presiding), Roumen Nenkov and Romina Incutti (KSC-CC-2024-27)

Judges Vidar Stensland (presiding), Roumen Nenkov and Piotr Hofmański (KSC-CC-2025-29)

Specialist Prosecutor's Office

Cezary Michalczuk, Nico Baarlink

Defence Counsel

Julius von Bóné (counsel)

Victims' Counsel

Anni Pues (counsel) - only for KSC-CC-2027