Appeal rejects 20 people's requests to participate as victims in the “Thaci case and others”

Wednesday, April 26, 2023 The Court of Appeals' panel overturned the appeals of 20 people to participate in the trial as victims who had appealed the court ruling, where their plea for participation in the Thaci court case and others was rejected, she said.

According to her, the panel has decided that people can resurface demand if they present new information to the court.

She said appeals were submitted by two defenders representing the 20 people who were rejected.

On the other hand, she said that on the same court case on April 28th, the court has overturned the request of the Special Prosecutor's Office ( ZPS for adopting a procedure for cases when the very aspect of the witness's own incriminating on the basis of the 151 rule.

The trial body is of the opinion that the rule 43 and 151 taken along with paragraph 97 of the command to develop judgment properly regulates its possible incriminating aspect of witnesses at this stage of the trial, Greep said.

She said that under the 151 rule a witness might object to giving evidence that could incriminate him, yet the court could force a witness to testify, for example, whether the witness would give a unique witness on the case.

In such a court case, I must give guarantees to the witness that the court will not act in terms of incriminating itself before testifying, Greep added.

She also announced that on May 1, 2023, and following the decision by the court, the manager concluded the appointment of David Young as Rexhep Selimi's defender and appointed Geoffrey Roberts as substitute defender.

Another said that hearings in the case will resume on May 10, 2023, starting at 09: 00 p.m.

In contrast, regarding Peter Shala's trial, Greep said the fifth and sixth witness called by the Prosecution have completed giving their testimony and that both witnesses have provided protective evidence via video connection.

It also announced the establishment of the Supreme Court panel to decide on the requirements of the protection of Hysni Gucatt and Nasim Haradinaj's legitimacy.

By law, Mr. Gucati and Mr. Haradinaj can apply for protection of legality in the three-month term since the final act in general. The Supreme Court panel can be determined if a plea is made to protect legitimacy on one side if the Appeals panel in its court has overturned the release and instead received punitive punishment or when a life sentence is pronounced by the judicial panel or the Appeals' panel, she said.

At the end of the conference, she said DPS has organised a seminar for Kosovo journalists, which was held by two highly experienced independent journalists in reporting the trials.