Rajko and Ranko Vukovic: First instance verdict appeals

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Defence of indictees Rajko and Ranko Vukovic presented their appeals to the first instance verdict, which was announced on February 2008.

The Prosecution appealed the part acquitting them of some charges and the duration of the pronounced sentence, while the Defence appealed the entire verdict, calling upon the Court to acquit the Vukovic brothers of all charges contained in the indictment.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced a first instance verdict against Rajko and Ranko Vukovic, pronouncing them guilty of the crime in Podkolun village, Foca municipality, in 1992. They were sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment each.

The first instance Chamber determined that Ranko and Rajko Vukovic came to Podkolun village and killed Avdija Hukara and Mejra Bekrija in May 1992. They were also found guilty of having participated in a joint criminal enterprise.

By the same verdict Ranko Vukovic was acquitted of the charges that he raped a woman in Miljevina in June 1992.

The Prosecution considers the Chamber’s explanation of the releasing part of the verdict as “unsustainable.”

“Witness A was traumatized. As a consequence of that, she still has mental problems. It is absolutely normal for her to give slightly different statements. However, there are no differences in the description of the key event, in which she mentioned Ranko Vukovic as a man who had raped her,” Prosecutor Behaija Krnic said.

Senad Kreho, Defence attorney of Vukovic brothers, said that there were no new pieces of evidence, which would imply that Ranko Vukovic had raped witness A. He said that he expected “a verdict of release” to be pronounced during the course of the appellate process.

The Defence appealed the parts of the verdict pertaining to the existence of a joint criminal enterprise, claiming that such a type of criminal act was not treated by law, which was in force when the crime was committed.

Kreho then referred to the testimony of “key Prosecution witness” Bajro Hukara, son of killed Avdija, claiming that it was “fragmented and full of contradictions”.

Finally Defence attorney Kreho said that, in this case, there existed “a contamination of memories”. He
presented the Court with a part of the statement given by Aljo Hukara, Bajro’s brother, who admitted that “Bajro might know who had killed our father, so we carefully thought about it and decided who we would sue”.

The Defence announced that it would examine new witnesses, in case a retrial was conducted. The new witnesses would include sister of a person named Nedjo Todorovic, who claims that her brother, who has died in the meantime, admitted to her that he had killed Hukara and Bekrija. The Defence says that this witness has just come forward, after having “heard about this case in the news”.

The Appellate Chamber will render its decision concerning the appeals at a later stage.