This case summary is part of a collection of summaries describing the cases before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). See the Online Resource Hub pages on the ICTY and International Criminal Law, and the table of ICTY case summaries for additional information.
Trial Judgment: 5 December 2003; Appeal Judgment: 30 November 2006
Stanislav Galić, the Commander and Major General of the Sarajevo Romanija Corps, stood trial for allegedly having planned, instigated, ordered, committed, or otherwise aided and abetted in the planning, preparation, or execution of the campaign of shelling and sniping against the civilian population of Sarajevo; his case marks the first life sentence to be carried out by the ICTY. The prosecution accused Galić of individual and superior criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity for murder and inhumane acts and violations of the laws and customs of war for unlawfully inflicting terror upon civilians and attack on civilians.
In 2003, the Trial Chamber convicted Galić for crimes against humanity for murder and inhumane acts and violations of the laws or customs of war for acts of violence with the primary purpose to spread terror among civilians, but acquitted him of violations of the laws or customs of wars for attacks on civilians.
In 2006, the Appeals Chamber dismissed all of Galić’s appeals and decided the prosecution’s appeal; the Appeals Chamber found that the Trial Chamber erred when it determined a sentence of only 20 years, which the Appeals Chamber found to be “unreasonable and plainly unjust” as it underestimated the gravity of Galić’s conduct. The Trial Chamber sentenced Galić to 20 years’ imprisonment; the Appeals Chamber quashed the previous sentence and sentenced Galić to life imprisonment.