The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia suspended the trial of Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military leader. After opening statements from the prosecution, it was learned that the prosecution had not shared all of the disclosure material with Mladic's defense lawyers. The mistake was attributed to clerical error. The court suspended the trial to remedy the omission and to give time to the defense attorneys. The prosecutors had acknowledged the failure and did not object.

The mistake is a setback for the prosecution, but it shows that the court is treating seriously its obligation to provide a fair trial.

(mew)

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