The Prosecutor v. Tihomir Blaškić

Case Sheet · ICTY

The Prosecutor v. Tihomir Blaškić

Location	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Case Number	IT-95-14
Case Name	Lašva Valley
Status	Closed · Sentence Served

Context

Held the rank of Colonel in the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) and became commander of the HVO in the Central Bosnian Operative Zone on 27 June 1992; was promoted to the rank of General and appointed Commander of the HVO at the beginning of August 1994

Pre-Trial

Initial Indictment	10 November 1995
Amended Indictments	22 November 1996 27 April 1997
Crimes Charged	Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS Inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS Wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health · art. 2(c) ICTYS Extensive destruction and appropriation of property · art. 2(d) ICTYS Taking civilians as hostages · art. 2(h) ICTYS Violations of the laws or customs of war Murder · art. 3 ICTYS Cruel treatment · art. 3 ICTYS Violation of the laws and customs of war · art. 3 ICTYS Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS Destruction or wilful damage to institutions dedicated to religion or education · art. 3(d) ICTYS Plunder of public or private property · art. 3(e) ICTYS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 5(a) ICTYS Crime against humanity of persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds · art. 5(h) ICTYS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS
Surrendered	1 April 1996 · Voluntarily surrendered
Initial Appearance	3 April 1996 · Plea: Not Guilty 4 December 1996 · Plea: Not Guilty

Trial

Trial Chamber	Trial Chamber I · Judges: Judge Claude Jorda (Presiding), Judge Mohamed Shahabuddeen, Judge Almiro Rodrigues
Trial Opening	24 June 1997
Trial Judgment	3 March 2000
Crimes at Trial Judgment	Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS Inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS Wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health · art. 2(c) ICTYS Extensive destruction and appropriation of property · art. 2(d) ICTYS Taking civilians as hostages · art. 2(h) ICTYS Violations of the laws or customs of war Violation of the laws and customs of war · art. 3 ICTYS Murder · art. 3 ICTYS Cruel treatment · art. 3 ICTYS Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS Destruction or wilful damage to institutions dedicated to religion or education · art. 3(d) ICTYS Plunder of public or private property · art. 3(e) ICTYS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 5(a) ICTYS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS
Sentencing Judgment	45 years of imprisonment

Appeal

Appeals Chamber	Appeals Chamber · Judges: Judge Fausto Pocar (Presiding), Judge Wolfgang Schomburg, Judge Florence Mumba, Judge Mehmet Güney, Judge Inés Mónica Weinberg De Roca
Appeals Filed By	Defence
Appeal Judgment	29 July 2004
Crimes at Appeal Judgment	Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 Inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS Violations of the laws or customs of war Cruel treatment · art. 3 ICTYS
Final Sentence	9 years of imprisonment

Key Documents

Initial Indictment	Initial Indictment (1995)
Amended Indictment	Amended Indictment (1997)
Trial Judgment	Trial Judgment (2000)
Appeal Judgment	Appeal Judgment (2004)
ICTY Case Page	Official ICTY page