‘Butcher of Bosnia’ guilty of genocide, sentenced to death
THE HAGUE (AFP) — UN judges yesterday sentenced former Bosnian Serbian commander Ratko Mladic to life in prison after finding him guilty of genocide and war crimes in the brutal Balkans conflicts over two decades ago.
But the man dubbed the “Butcher of Bosnia” was not present in court to hear the verdict, having been dragged out of the courtroom after loudly accusing the judges of “lying.”
And his son and lawyers told reporters he planned to appeal.
Judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia found Mladic guilty on 10 counts, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity such as murder and deportation. But he was acquitted of one charge of genocide in certain municipalities.
About 100,000 people were killed and 2.2 million displaced in the 1992-1995 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 having committed these crimes, the chamber sentences Ratko Mladic to life imprisonment,” presiding judge Alphons Orie said as applause broke out in the public gallery.
He added that the crimes were “among the most heinous known to humankind.”
A smiling Mladic, 74, who once left a trail of fear across Bosnia, gave a thumbs-up as he entered the courtroom in The Hague dressed in a grey suit and red tie.