Slobodan Milosevic's Death Leaves Questions, Tribunal Faces Scrutiny

Slobodan Milosevic, the former Yugoslav president, died suddenly in his cell at the war crimes tribunal in The Hague, sparking speculation about the cause of his heart attack. An investigation into his death is underway, with an autopsy performed by Dutch pathologists and two pathologists from Belgrade. The report identified two heart conditions that may have contributed to the heart attack, but further toxicological tests are needed to determine if any substances contributed to his death. The tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, has expressed regret over Milosevic's death, which occurred just as his trial was nearing its end.

Key Takeaways:

• Slobodan Milosevic died suddenly in his cell at the war crimes tribunal in The Hague, with speculation surrounding the cause of his heart attack.
• An autopsy was performed by Dutch pathologists and two pathologists from Belgrade, which identified two heart conditions that may have contributed to the heart attack.
• Toxicological tests are still pending, and it remains unclear if any substances contributed to Milosevic's death.
• Lawyers close to Milosevic alleged that the autopsy may reveal substances in his blood that could have contributed to his death.
• Milosevic's trial was suspended over 20 times due to his reported health issues, and he was known to manipulate his medication.
• The tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, has expressed regret over Milosevic's death and emphasized the need to continue investigating war crimes cases.

Statistics:

• 50 hours of hearings remained in the defense phase of Milosevic's trial at the time of his death.
• More than 20 times, Milosevic's trial was suspended due to his reported health issues.
• Over four years, Milosevic's trial proceedings spanned from 2002 to 2012.

Sources:

• "Milosevic found dead, court says." THE HAGUE: -- Marlise Simons. -- (No date given in original text)
• "Milosevic 'Manipulated His Health'". THE HAGUE: -- Marlise Simons. -- (No date given in original text)
• "A report from a prison doctor March 3 said blood samples from Milosevic showed traces of rifampicin, an antibiotic used to treat serious bacterial infections like tuberculosis and leprosy." Marlise Simons. -- (No date given in original text)
• "March 10 letter from Milosevic to an unknown recipient." Marlise Simons. -- (No date given in original text)
• "A news conference held by Carla Del Ponte." Marlise Simons. -- (No date given in original text)