Karajic: Limited Sanity

Court expert Zaim Bilalbegovic, a psychiatrist, who was questioned by the Defence of Suljo Karajic, said that the indictee was “brought into a state of extreme volatility and limited sanity” at the time when the murder of Amir Karajic, known as Kolac, which is charged upon him, was committed.

 
“The indictee’s response to Amir Karajic’s behaviour was caused by the state of volatility. He was not able to think about a response to the provocation. The capability of understanding and controlling his actions was reduced,” Bilalbegovic said, adding that the indictee did not suffer from any mental illness, “and no medical treatment is therefore recommended”.

 
Suljo Karajic, a former member of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is charged with crimes against civilians and prisoners of war committed in “the broad area of Bihac” in late 1994 and early 1995. He is charged with having killed Amir Karajic, on August 4, 1994, in front of “Radoc” motel in Buzim, in which members of the National Defence of the Western Bosnia Autonomous Region were detained.

 
Testifying in his own defence in February this year, the indictee admitted the murder, describing the circumstances that preceded it and claiming that he “did not know what he was doing” on that day. Karajic told the Court that, in October 1993 he was wounded and his head was injured. He said that Kolac, who provoked him, also told him that he had wounded him. 

 
Court expert Bilalbegovic had the task of determining the mental state of the indictee now and at the time when the crime was committed. He conducted an analysis on the basis of the indictment, and an interview with the indictee, his wife and a former colleague, as well as medical documents and reports made during the course of investigation of all witnesses who testified in the case.

 
“The indictee is an emotionally unstable person. When he speaks about the past, he tends to become depressed. He is burdened by thoughts about the past. Most often he recollects the image of Amir Karajic’s murder. Ideas of self-pity, regret and self-destruction become prominent,” the court expert said, adding that Karajic was alive thanks to “his faith in God and justice”.

 
The court expert said that Karajic showed signs of “post-traumatic stress disorder”, PTSD.

 
The trial is due to continue on June 11, when three more defence witnesses will be examined.