Martin Hackett

Criminal LawInternational Criminal LawTerrorism OffencesWar Crimes

Martin Hackett is an experienced Criminal Law Barrister who specialises in the most serious and complex cases.

He is currently working for the European Union Rule of Law Mission in the SpecialProsecution Office for the Republic of Kosovo as an International Prosecutor and Head ofthe War Crimes Unit.

Seconded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in November 2013, Martin ispractising as a Continental Civil Law Prosecutor with overall responsibility for more than800 war crimes cases. His duties range from dialogue with the Serbian authorities for thedevelopment of joint investigations and disclosure in war crimes cases, to appearing as aProsecution Advocate before international Judges in War Crimes trials.

Martin has also advised the FCO, the Kosovo Government and the International Commission for Missing Persons regarding war crimes, corruption and organised crime.

In addition to his international work, Martin has spent well over 20 years practicing in serious crime on the Northern Circuit, he has considerable experience in handling the most complicated and sensitive sexual cases, complex fraud allegations, large scale drug conspiracies and cases involving murder, manslaughter and serious violence.

Martin is often instructed in cases where defendants or witnesses suffer from severe mental health problems.

Martin is a CAT 4 Prosecutor.

Prosecutor and Head of the War Crimes UnitEU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX)

Martin has responsibility for developments in joint investigations in War Crimes, toappearing as Prosecution Advocate in Court before International Judges. As Unit Head heis responsible for over 800 war crime matters including old UNMIK cases, allocating theseto other prosecutors, liaising closely with the Police War Crimes Investigation Unitregarding the priority and running a very active high profile team of Prosecutors and LegalOfficers.

Martin manages the Unit’s caseload and strategy and is accountable to the Head ofMission. His additional duties include interviewing witnesses, directing the wholeinvestigation process, drafting documents and indictments for the court based uponInternational Humanitarian law concerning cases of war crimes.

Martin provides representation to the Chief Prosecutor for the Republic of Kosovo aboutpolitically sensitive cases. He liaises with Serbian Prosecutors and Ministers to establish aprotocol concerning international legal co-operation and disclosure of evidence plus heliaises over the repatriation of the bodies of victims.

When required Martin takes over as Acting Head of the Special Prosecution Office. A mainpart of his role is to research, organise and manage evidence, conduct legal research andadvice on specific cases, including substantive and procedural aspects of Kosovo’sdomestic criminal law and international criminal and human rights law within theframework of the ICTY.

He works to strengthen the domestic capacity of Kosovan Prosecutors, in this transitionalphase of the mission, to ensure a lasting legacy regarding war crimes prosecutions.

Other War Crimes roles Martin covers include:

• Trial advocacy : opening and closing speeches, examination-in-chief and crossexamination of witnesses, make submissions on motions when required during thetrial process.• Liaise with NGO’s especially in the area of sexual violence during conflict• Supervise exhumation sites liaising with both the police and forensic teams.• Meeting and advising Kosovan government think tank upon corruption.• Meeting and advising UK Officials upon corruption and war crimes.• Advising the International Commission for Missing Persons about Kosovan criminalprocedure and how it currently impacts upon ongoing missing persons cases.• Advising on The Mission Implementation Plan.• Advising on possible changes in Kosovo law to assist the transition process to fulllocal Kosovo control over all war crimes matter.• Attendance at the International War Crimes Conference regarding Balkan co-operation.• Drafting Memorandum of Understanding between Kosovo and Serbia about theexchange of information in war crimes cases.

Martin prosecuted two of the Mission’s most high profile cases:• The Drenica Group trial. It involves the prosecution of high ranking KLA members forwar crimes committed in 1998. The allegations involve murder and torture. Martin islead prosecutor in this ten defendant trial which has been running since May 2014.• The Rezella/Raska case. This involves large scale cross border investigation and dialoguewith Serbia and relates to a massacre during the war where the bodies of the manyvictims have been concealed in Serbia.

University of Wales LLB (Hons)