Convicted War Criminal Dies After Drinking Poison In Courtroom

by HHL JT

Bosnian Croat General Slobodan Praljak just made one of the more dramatic exits you're ever going to see.

The 72-year old drank a small bottle of poison after his latest (and last) appeal of a 20 year sentence for war crimes was rejected by a court in The Hague.

In a dramatic turn of events, former Bosnian Croat General Slobodan Praljak appeared to drink what he said was poison at the ICTY. pic.twitter.com/V3yZLW5sBT

— RFE/RL (@RFERL) November 29, 2017
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"Judges, Slobodan Praljak is not a criminal. With disdain, I reject your verdict," Praljak said before downing the bottle.

Upon hearing from Praljak's lawyers that he had  just consumed poison, the judge suspended the trial.  The general later died in the hospital.

In 2013, Praljak was convicted of crimes in the city of Mostar during the Bosnian war of 1992-95.  They included nine breaches of the Geneva Convention, nine violations of the laws and customs of war, and eight counts of crimes against humanity.

Would you go out like that if you were facing the rest of your years locked up?