Live update

Following the testimony of the 11th  SPO witness, today’s evidentiary hearing in the Thaçi et al. case has adjourned. As proposed by the Panel, a status conference is taking place now to discuss steps to ensure a greater degree of publicity of the proceedings (a matter already mentioned during the hearing on 17 May).

The testimony of the 11th SPO witness resumed this morning. The witness, who is testifying video-link, is currently still being examined by the SPO.

Following the completion of testimony of witness W03540, the Prosecution in the Thaçi et al. case called its 11th witness today. Witness W03811, who is also protected, is testifying via video-link.

During the hearing today (19 June), the Panel in the Thaçi et al case, given the target date for the end of the SPO case (April 2025), expressed its concern about the current pace of the in-court testimony. Realizing that about 120 hours has been spent on the testimony of only 10 witnesses, the Panel reminded the parties that it is unnecessary to question witnesses extensively on undisputed matters. On this basis, the Panel expressed its belief that the SPO could considerably reduce time needed for examination-in-chief while the Defence was ordered to reassess its time estimates for the cross-examination of the upcoming witnesses.

The 10th Prosecution’s witness at the trial against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi is protected witness W03540, who is testifying with facial distortion.

Following the completion of the testimony of the 8th Prosecution’s witness, the trial against Pjetër Shala is adjourned for the week and will resume on 26 June at 09:30. At the end of today’s hearing, the Panel issued an oral order setting, inter alia, 6 July 2023 as the target date for the closing of the SPO case. Subject to the outcome of the Defence’s Rule 130 motion (for dismissal of charges), if any, 21 or 22 August has been set for the commencement of evidence to be called by the Victims’ Counsel, if any, immediately followed by the Defence preparation conference (during the same week). The Panel set 18 September 2023 as the target date for the opening of the Defence case (if any).

The 8th Prosecution witness in the Shala trial is an expert witness Zbyněk Dolejši, an expert on DNA identification from Prague, Czech Republic.

Here is the transcript of today's KSC Weekly Press Briefing.

Following the completion of the testimony of the 9th SPO witness, the trial against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi is adjourned for the week and it will resume on Monday, 19 June, at 09:00.

The testimony of the 9th SPO witness resumed this morning.