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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

529. […] The Appeals Chamber recalls that the crimes of genocide and conspiracy to commit genocide both require genocidal intent as a part of the mens rea element[…] [1] […].

[1]  In order for the mens rea for conspiracy to commit genocide to be satisfied “the individuals involved in the agreement must have the intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such (mens rea)”. Nahimana et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 894. Likewise, for genocide an accused must act “with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such”. Munyakazi Appeal Judgement, para. 141.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

544. The Appeals Chamber recalls that “a concerted agreement to commit genocide may be inferred from the conduct of the conspirators” and can be based on circumstantial evidence.[1] Further, the concerted or co-ordinated action of a group of individuals can constitute evidence of an agreement.[2] […]

553. […] In this respect, the Appeals Chamber recalls that “[w]hile [the] actus reus [of conspiracy to commit genocide] can be proved by evidence of meetings to plan genocide, it can also be inferred from other evidence. In particular, a concerted agreement to commit genocide may be inferred from the conduct of the conspirators”.[3]

[1]           Nahimana et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 896. See Karemera and Ngirumpatse Appeal Judgement, para. 740; Nzabonimana Appeal Judgement, paras 392, 448; Seromba Appeal Judgement, para. 221.

[2]           Nahimana et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 897. See Nzabonimana Appeal Judgement, para. 391.

[3]           Nahimana et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 896. See Seromba Appeal Judgement, para. 221.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

567. […] [T]he Appeals Chamber notes that it is well-established that “the presence within the civilian population of individuals who do not come within the definition of civilians does not deprive the population of its civilian character”.[1] The Appeals Chamber further recalls that “the civilian population need only be predominantly civilian”.[2] […]

569. […] [T]he Appeals Chamber reiterates that “there is no requirement nor is it an element of crimes against humanity that the victims of the underlying crimes be ‘civilians’”,[3] or even be predominantly civilians,[4] provided the acts form part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population (the nexus requirement). The population targeted by the attack must be predominantly civilian,[5] but there is no legal requirement that a certain proportion of the victims of the underlying crime be civilians.[6] […]

[1]           Šainović et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 549; Mrkšić and [ljivančanin Appeal Judgement, para. 31, citing Kordić and Čerkez Appeal Judgement, para. 50. See also Blaškić Appeal Judgement, para. 113.

[2]           Mrkšić and [ljivančanin Appeal Judgement, para. 25, affirming Mrkšić et al. Trial Judgement, para. 442.

[3]           Mrkšić and [ljivančanin Appeal Judgement, para. 32.

[4]           See Mrkšić and [ljivančanin Appeal Judgement, paras 36-37.

[5]           See supra, para. 567.

[6]           See Martić Appeal Judgement, para. 307; Kunarac et al. Appeal Judgement, paras 85, 91.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

537. In relation to crimes under different statutory provisions, as the Trial Chamber recalled, cumulative convictions for the same conduct are permissible if each statutory provision involved has a materially distinct element not contained in the other.[1] Further, the Appeals Chamber notes that the Trial Chamber correctly held that conspiracy to commit genocide and genocide involve different underlying acts or omissions and a materially distinct actus reus.[2]

538. In this case, the Trial Chamber reasoned that – as Popović’s and Beara’s participation in the JCE to Murder with genocidal intent was the basis of the convictions for genocide as well as for inferring an agreement to commit genocide – “entering a conviction for the substantive offence of genocide renders redundant a conviction for conspiracy”.[3] The Trial Chamber also concluded that “the full criminality of the Accused is accounted for by a conviction for genocide”.[4] The Appeals Chamber, however, recalls “that a trial chamber is bound to enter convictions for all distinct crimes which have been proven in order to fully reflect the criminality of the convicted person”.[5] As conspiracy to commit genocide and genocide are distinct crimes, it was necessary to enter convictions against Popović and Beara for conspiracy to commit genocide in order to reflect their full culpability.[6] […]

[1]           Karemera and Ngirumpatse Appeal Judgement, para. 710; Gatete Appeal Judgement, para. 259 & fn. 630. See [Popović et al.] Trial Judgement, para. 2111 & fns 6103-6104.

[2]           [Popović et al.] Trial Judgement, para. 2118 & fns 6115-6116. See Karemera and Ngirumpatse Appeal Judgement, para. 710; Gatete Appeal Judgement, para. 260 & fns 632-633.

[3]           Trial Judgement, paras 2124-2126.

[4]           Trial Judgement, para. 2127.

[5]           Gatete Appeal Judgement, para. 261. See Karemera and Ngirumpatse Appeal Judgement, para. 711.

[6]           See Gatete Appeal Judgement, para. 261.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

1103. […] The Appeals Chamber considers that the component pieces of circumstantial evidence on the issue of identification are to be considered in relation to all other pieces of circumstantial evidence bearing on the issue, and not in isolation.[1] Whereas the assessment of an evidentiary factor in a vacuum might fail to establish an essential matter, the weight of all relevant evidence taken together can conclusively prove the same matter beyond reasonable doubt.[2] […]

See also para. 1150.

[1]           See Limaj et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 153.

[2]           See Limaj et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 153.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

79. […] The Appeals Chamber recalls that trial chambers have the discretion to bar the testimony of an expert witness called to give evidence on legal matters.[1] […]

[1]           Nahimana et al. Appeal Judgement, paras 292-294. See also Šainović et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 1295; Renzaho Appeal Judgement, para. 289.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

375. […] The Appeals Chamber recalls that the purpose of expert testimony is to supply specialised knowledge that might assist the trier of fact in understanding the evidence before it, and that in the ordinary case an expert witness offers a view based on specialised knowledge regarding a technical, scientific or otherwise discrete set of ideas or concepts that is expected to fall outside the lay person’s ken.[1] […]

[1]           Nahimana et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 198, citing Semanza Appeal Judgement, para. 303.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

1307. […] The Appeals Chamber recalls that a trial chamber has the discretion to rely on hearsay evidence.[1] It is settled that the weight and probative value to be afforded to hearsay evidence will ultimately depend upon “the infinitely variable circumstances which surround hearsay evidence”.[2] […]

[1]           See supra, note 3687.

[2]           Karera Appeal Judgement, para. 39. See Kalimanzira Appeal Judgement, para. 96.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

382. The Appeals Chamber recalls that where a finding of guilt is made on the basis of identification evidence given by a witness under difficult circumstances, the Trial Chamber needs to “carefully articulate the factors relied upon in support of the identification of the accused and adequately address any significant factors impacting negatively on the reliability of the identification evidence”.[1] The Appeals Chamber stresses that this is required only when a witness’s identification was made under difficult circumstances, such as in the dark or as a result of a fleeting glance.[2] […]

392. […] The Appeals Chamber recalls that identification hearsay evidence may, depending on the circumstances of the case, require other credible or reliable evidence in order to support a finding of fact beyond reasonable doubt.[3] […]

[1]           Lukić and Lukić Appeal Judgement, para. 136 (emphasis omitted); Haradinaj et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 152; Kupreškić et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 39.

[2]           Renzaho Appeal Judgement, para. 531, referring to Kupreškić et al. Appeal Judgement, paras 34, 39-40. See also Lukić and Lukić Appeal Judgement, para. 137; Gatete Appeal Judgement, para. 193.

[3]           See Renzaho Appeal Judgement, para. 534. See also Lukić and Lukić Appeal Judgement, paras 387, 577.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

90. […] “[T]he probative value of a document may be assessed differently in different cases, depending on the circumstances”.[1] […]

[1]           Simba Appeal Judgement, para. 132. See Bizimungu Appeal Judgement, para. 210.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

1741. Finally, it is recalled that whether an act or omission had a substantial effect on the commission of a crime is a fact-based inquiry,[1] and further, this aspect of aiding and abetting by omission has been interpreted to mean that had the accused acted the commission of the crime would have been substantially less likely.[2]

[1]           Mrkšić and Šljivančanin Appeal Judgement, para. 200.

[2]           See Šainović et al. Appeal Judgement, paras 1679, 1682, fn. 5510; Mrkšić and Šljivančanin Appeal Judgement, paras 97, 100.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

228. […] Rule 85(C) of the Rules […] contains no restrictions with regard to when, during the defence case, the accused can choose to exercise this right. 

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ICTR Rule Rule 85(C) ICTY Rule Rule 85(C)
Notion(s) Filing Case
Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

430. In holding that the crime of genocide does not require the existence of a State policy, the Trial Chamber relied on, inter alia, the Krstić, Jelisić, and Kayishema and Ruzindana Appeal Judgements.[1] […] In the Jelisić Appeal Judgement, the Appeals Chamber held that “the existence of a plan or policy is not a legal ingredient of the crime”,[2] while in Kayishema and Ruzindana the ICTR Appeals Chamber stated that “a genocidal plan is not a constituent element of the crime of genocide”.[3] Although these judgements do not explicitly address the issue of State policy, the Appeals Chamber considers that if a policy is not a legal requirement, it follows that State policy cannot be a legal requirement. Thus, the question of whether the existence of a State policy is required for the crime of genocide has already been considered by the Tribunal.

[1]           [Popović et al.] Trial Judgement, paras 828-830.

[2]           Jelisić Appeal Judgement, para. 48.

[3]           Kayishema and Ruzindana Appeal Judgement, para. 138.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

422. […] Although the substantiality requirement is textually indicated in the provision describing the specific intent required for genocide, i.e. the requirement that there must exist an “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such”,[1] it is the objective, contextual characteristics of the targeted part of the group, including, inter alia, its numeric size relative to the total size of the group,[2] that form the basis for determining whether the targeted part of the group is substantial.[3] […]

[1]           Article 4(2) of the Statute (emphasis added). See Krstić Appeal Judgement, paras 6, 8-9. See also Article II of the Genocide Convention.

[2]           Krstić Appeal Judgement, para. 12.

[3]           See Krstić Appeal Judgement, paras 12-17 (where substantiality is discussed by reference to various contextual and objective characteristics of the targeted part of the group, the Bosnian Muslims of Srebrenica); Benjamin Whitaker, Revised and Updated Report on the Question of Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/1985/6, para. 29 (“‘In part’ would seem to imply a reasonably significant number, relative to the total of the group as a whole, or else a significant section of a group, such as its leadership.”).

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

1615. The Appeals Chamber recalls that it has previously held that the participation of an accused in a JCE need not involve the commission of a crime, but that it may take the form of assistance in, or contribution to, the execution of the common objective or purpose.[1] Moreover, it has previously held that “the fact that [the] participation [of an accused] amounted to no more than his or her ‘routine duties’ will not exculpate the accused”.[2] […]

[1]           Krajišnik Appeal Judgement, paras 215, 695-696; Kvočka et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 263. See also Šainović et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 985.

[2]           See Blagojević and Jokić Appeal Judgement, para. 189 making this statement in the context of aiding and abetting liability.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

1696. […] [T]he Appeals Chamber considers that […] there is no express time frame included in the foreseeability standard […][1] […]

[1]           See [ainović et al. Appeal Judgement, paras 1061, 1557.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

The Trial Chamber found that the Appellant was liable under JCE III for murder as a crime against humanity. At the same time, the Trial Chamber, without providing any further reasons, held that “in the circumstances of [the] killings arising from a JCE to Forcibly Remove – encompassing forcible transfer as other inhumane acts constituting a crime against humanity – his criminal responsibility is for murder as a crime against humanity and not as a war crime”. See para. 1710. The Appeals Chamber considered that the Trial Chamber’s scant reasoning as to why it acquitted the Appellant for war crimes suggests that the Trial Chamber required that the category of the JCE III crime must match that of the JCE I crime. See para. 1713.

1713. […] [T]he jurisprudence of the Tribunal does not require the category of the JCE I crime and the JCE III crime to match.[1] […]

[1]           See, e.g., Martić Appeal Judgement, para. 183, referring to Martić Trial Judgement, paras 454-455.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

622. […] The Appeals Chamber considers that a trial chamber may exercise its discretionary power to determine whether to take judicial notice of an adjudicated fact,[1] even if the fact may have been less central to the charges in the previous proceedings of the Tribunal than in the current proceedings,[2] so long as the adjudicated fact has been “established by the Trial Chamber [in the previous proceedings] on the basis of evidence”.[3] […]

[1]           See supra, para. 620.

[2]           See Blagojević and Jokić Appeal Judgement, para. 34.

[3]           The Prosecutor v. Théoneste Bagosora and Anatole Nsengiyumva, Case No. ICTR-98-41-A, Decision on Anatole Nsengiyumva’s Motion for Judicial Notice, 29 October 2010, para. 11 (emphasis omitted).

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

762. To establish the actus reus of persecution in the present case, the Trial Chamber was required to establish that the underlying acts of terrorising civilians: discriminated in fact, denied or infringed upon a fundamental right laid down in international customary or treaty law,[1] and were “of equal gravity to the crimes listed in Article 5 whether considered in isolation or in conjunction with other acts.”[2] […]

[1]           Nahimana et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 985.

[2]           Nahimana et al. Appeal Judgement, paras 985-988; Brđanin Appeal Judgement, para. 296; Simić Appeal Judgement, para. 177; Blaškić Appeal Judgement, paras 135, 139, 154-155, 160.

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Appeal Judgement - 30.01.2015 POPOVIĆ et al.
(IT-05-88-A)

1812. […] [T]he criminal responsibility of an aider and abettor does not require the contribution to the crime of persecution to go to the discriminatory nature of this crime […][1]

[1]           See supra, para. 1808.

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