Date Set for Palija Trial
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The Trial Chamber chaired by Judge Minka Kreho has announced that the trial of Jadranko Palija, a former member of Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), will begin on March 28, 2007.
In three counts of the indictment, Palija is charged with crimes against humanity against Bosniak and Croat civilians, all committed on the territory of Sanski Most municipality.
The Prosecution holds him responsible for “individual and mass murders, rapes, psychological and physical abuses” of civilians in Sanski Most, committed from 1992 to 1995.
Palija’s name is mentioned in the indictment against Radoslav Brdjanin, who was sentenced before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to 32 years of prison for crimes committed on the territory of 13 municipalities of Bosanska Krajina, including Sanski Most.
It is stated in the ICTY verdict that Palija killed four persons, while the other detainees in the group were ordered to take off their clothes and form a line on a bridge. At least 28 persons were killed at that time.
Prosecutor Dzemila Begovic announced that the Prosecution would question 36 witnesses during the evidence procedure, which will last for 12 days. It will take five days to present the physical evidence.
Indictee Palija’s defence attorney, Ranko Dakic, asked the Trial Chamber to approve an additional Defence attorney, explaining that this is a complex and difficult case that “requires maximum engagement on the part of the Defence”.
The Defence plans to question 15 witnesses during the evidence procedure, which will take them “five to six days”, and to spend one day in presentation of physical evidence.
