War crimes trial of ex-Kosovo PM to start January 2007 News
War crimes trial of ex-Kosovo PM to start January 2007

[JURIST] The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official website; JURIST news archive] announced Tuesday that the trial of former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] will begin in January 2007. The tribunal also said it expected the trial to take at least a year, and probably some 18 months. Haradinaj resigned [JURIST report] after being indicted [text] on charges of crimes against humanity and violations of the laws of war and pleaded not guilty [JURIST report] to all 37 counts of war crimes. He is currently back in Kosovo following his provisional release [JURIST report] pending trial under strict supervision by UN authorities. Ireland On-Line has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.