Two sessions down, trial of Shala continues on 16 June

The trial process will continue on Friday, June 16th, with the prosecution's presentation of evidence, while other hearings scheduled for this week have been cancelled.

The seventh Witness of the Prosecutor, who has testified under protective measures as well as the other six before him, has been heard mainly in closed public hearings.

With questions from the prosecution, the protection of Shala, as well as the court, the witness interview with code 1 has lasted five days.

At the close of today's trial hearing, the court has overturned Shala's defence request over the review of the verdict for the accused's earlier statements.

The court's “has considered the statements made by the parties including SPS responses and defence counterresponds. We bring down the request, the court first notes that the review should not be used as a second appeal tool or to repossess the request before the court for which the decision was made before. The prosecution's submission of the accused's statements has been submitted as a request to the court of defense to appeal its verdict. The defense has done this, and the Court of Appeals has ruled on this and given the court's ruling to power, defense cannot use the 79th rule of regulation to reopen cases that have been ruled... The court thinks it is important to preserve the principle of finality, the fact that the decision is of a strict form, and finds that the review has not been justified for this reason the jurol lowers the defence requirement”, said court head Mapie Veldt Foglia.

Peter Shala, who is located at The Hague detention centre since March 2021, has attended this session only through video connection.

Shala was arrested on 16 March 2021 by Belgian authorities and transferred to The Hague on April 15th that year, on the basis of a requirement for co-operation in implementing the arrest warrant and order for transfer issued by Kosovo's Specialised Chambers.

According to Specials, “The crimes Shala is accused of were carried out approximately between May 17, 1999 and June 5, 1999, against persons who were detained at the metal factory in Kukes Albania, allegedly used by the Kosovo Liberation Army”.