Kujundzic: Trial to start on April 16

As agreed at the status conference held before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the trial of Predrag Kujundzic, who is charged with war crimes against Bosniaks and Croats committed in Doboj, is due to start on April 16, when the indictment will be read and the Prosecution of BiH and Defence will present their introductory arguments.

The Prosecution of BiH charges Kujundzic, as commander of “Predini vukovi” (“Predo’s Wolves”) paramilitary group, with having participated in the “prosecution, murder, rape and detention of Bosniak and Croatian civilians” from Doboj area.

The indictment charges Kujundzic with “sexual slavery and rape of several minor girls.”

Prosecutor Bozidarka Dodik said 43 witnesses would be examined during the presentation of evidence.
According to her, some of them “are direct victims of the indictee’s activities,” while others have got indirect information on crimes committed in that area.

Out of this number, sixteen Prosecution witnesses have asked for protection measures. Dodik said that she would ask a few neurological and psychiatric experts to conduct an examination and provide their opinion on the capability of certain witnesses.

Attorney Miroslav Ristic said the Defence would examine about 30 witnesses and four court experts in the course of its evidence presentation. A “report on the indictee’s physical and mental state in the referenced period”, as well as some documents related to his role in “Predini vukovi” Unit will be included in the material evidence.

The Defence asked the Trial Chamber to order the Prosecution of BiH to provide the Defence with the names of its protected witnesses 30 days in advance, instead of the usual 15 days, because “many witnesses did not provide the detailed description of certain events in their statements.”

The Defence also asked for the indictee’s wife to be allowed to visit him in the Detention Unit. It claims that she has not been allowed to visit him so far, because the Prosecution suspects that she “was involved in the crimes.”

The Court will announce its decision at a later stage.