An international court has defied the odds to bring the Butcher of Bosnia to justice.

The UN war crimes tribunal has sentenced Bosnian Serb army leader Rakto Mladic to life in prison, for genocide during the Bosnian war.

READ MORE: 'This is all lies!' - Mladic found guilty of Bosnian genocide

The 74-year-old continues to maintain his innocence and plans to appeal the decision.

Author of the Butcher's Trial, Julian Bolger, told Mike Hosking today is a day many people never thought would come.

"It had security council backing, it accounted for all 161 people on its indictment list, went after them, captured them, it brought them in."

LISTEN ABOVE AS JULIAN BOLGER SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING