Defendant drank poison in the middle of the trial

The UN war crimes trial in the Netherlands was abruptly halted on November 29 after the defendant drank poison to protest the court's ruling. The man later died.

Defendant Slobodan Praljak drank poison during his trial in the Netherlands. Photo: ABC

According toABC NewsThe trial of defendant Slobodan Praljak, 72, on charges of war crimes took place at the United Nations International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands on November 29. The trial was abruptly stopped after an incident with defendant Slobodan Praljak.

Just seconds after the court sentenced him to 20 years in prison, Mr. Praljak shouted “I am not a war criminal,” then drank a small cup of water that had been prepared in court. Mr. Praljak also told the judge that he had taken poison.

Several people in the courtroom rushed to Mr. Praljak's seat to help the defendant. The judge also quickly asked for a recess and all the curtains in the room were lowered.

Rescue teams, fire engines, ambulances and police rushed into the courtroom to take the defendant to hospital. Court spokesman Nenad Golcevski later confirmed that Mr Praljak died in a hospital in the Netherlands after drinking the water. Media reports said he died from poisoning.

Praljak, a former commander of Bosnian Croat forces during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, is one of six Bosnian Croat military and political leaders on trial yesterday on a series of charges related to war crimes against Muslims.

According to Dan Tri