UN tribunal initiates independent review after defendant consumes poison in courtroom News
UN tribunal initiates independent review after defendant consumes poison in courtroom

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official website] announced [press release] that it has initiated an independent expert review on internal operations after the death of Slobodan Praljak, who consumed poison [JURIST report] in the courtroom on Wednesday after the court reaffirmed his 20 year prison sentence.

The review will be completed along with a Dutch investigation into Praljak’s death. A report on the review is to be provided before December 31, 2017, which is the closing of the ICTY. The review will assess relevant procedures and make recommendations for future courts.

Justice Hassan Jallow will lead the review. Jallow is Chief Justice of The Gambia.

The ICTY originally convicted [JURIST report] Praljak in May 2013 of war crimes related to the ethnic cleansing of the Muslim population during the Bosnia-Herzegovina war in 1992-1995. The appeals hearing for the convictions began [JURIST report] in March 2017.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charles Manson sentenced to death

On April 19, 1971, Charles Manson was sentenced to death for ordering the murders of Sharon Tate and others. The sentence was then commuted to life after the Supreme Court of California overturned the death penalty in 1972. Learn more about the trial of Charles Manson from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law.

The Beatles signed 10-year partnership

On April 19, 1967, John, Paul, George and Ringo - aka "The Beatles" - signed a partnership deed agreeing that the group would continue for a (further) period of ten years. When The Beatles split up prematurely in 1970, Paul applied to have the partnership terminated and a receiver appointed.

Read a legal analysis of Paul McCartney’s 1970 lawsuit against John, George and Ringo.

More This Day @ Law... ▸