War crimes trial overseen by Scot

The former Bosnian Serb leader at his first tribunal appearance

A Scottish judge will oversee preparations for the trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, it has been announced.

Lord Bonomy, 62, sat in the trial of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic which was aborted when Milosevic died of a heart attack.

The judge will come face to face with Mr Karadzic on 29th August when he enters a plea to charges of genocide.

Lord Bonomy was appointed to the war crimes tribunal in 2004.

The former Bosnian Serb leader was arrested last month in Serbia after 13 years on the run.

At his next court appearance he must enter pleas to 11 charges including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. If he refuses, the court automatically enters not guilty pleas.

He is alleged to have masterminded atrocities including the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and the 44-month siege of Sarajevo during Bosnia's 1992/95 war.

Lord Bonomy worked in Scotland as solicitor, then became an advocate in 1984, a QC in 1993, and a senior prosecutor in 1990.

He was senior counsel to the Dunblane inquiry, which investigated the circumstances surrounding the schoolroom massacre in which Thomas Hamilton killed 16 children and their teacher.

He became a judge in Scotland in 1997, and five years later masterminded a review of high court procedures.