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29th Nov 2017

War crimes defendant drinks poison during Hague trial moments after UN uphold their conviction

The UN appeals judges upheld Slobodan Praljak's 20-year sentence for war crimes against Bosnian Muslims.

Paul Moore

He reportedly died moments afterwards.

Slobodan Praljak, a wartime commander of Bosnian Croat forces, has died by suicide, according to the Associated Press.

Moments after the UN appeals judges upheld his 20-year sentence for war crimes against Bosnian Muslims, Mr Praljak openly said in court that he “drank poison”.

It’s reported that the 72-year-old tilted his head back and ingested the poison from a flask or glass as the judge read out the verdict.

“I just drank poison. I am not a war criminal. I oppose this conviction,” he said.

At present, the Associated Press has reported the following: “Croatia’s state TV says Slobodan Praljak, who claimed to have taken poison just after his 20-year sentence was upheld by appeals judges at a U.N. war crimes tribunal, has died. Dutch police will not comment on the TV report based on ‘sources close’ to Gen. Praljak.”

After realising that Mr. Praljak had ingested poison, the presiding judge called for a doctor and suspended the proceedings.

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