Golubovic: A Humane Act

The Defence of Blagoje Golubovic proposed to the Court to terminate his custody and introduce other measures instead, offering his apartment in Miljevina as a guarantee that Golubovic would regularly appear before the Court. The Defence presented a purchase contract, which indicates that the value of the apartment is KM 3,000.

“We should not consider the value of the property but the fact that this is the indictee’s only home,” said attorney Bajro Cilic, adding that Golubovic’s release to liberty would be “a humane act”.

“My request to let me defend myself while at liberty comes as a result of my fight for my family, as I have to feed them and secure a better life for them. All I possess is this 40 square meters big apartment. I am ready to offer it as a guarantee that I would appear before the Court regularly,” indictee Golubovic said.

The Prosecution objected the motion, claiming that the circumstances had not changed in this case, while there was still “a concrete danger” that the indictee might seek to flee.

The Court will render a decision concerning the motion at a later stage.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Blagoje Golubovic with having participated in the murder of civilians Avdija Hukara and Mejra Bekrija in Podkolun village, Foca municipality, in late May 1992.

In April 2008 Golubovic was arrested in an extradition prison in Serbia, on the basis of an international warrant. At the end of January this year he was extradited to Bosnian authorities. As per the Prosecution’s motion, he has been held in custody since then.

The Defence examined two witnesses at this hearing. Ilija Golubovic, indictee Blagoje’s relative, claims that the relations between the Golubovic and Hukara families were good prior to the war and after the war.

“The Golubovic and Hukara families have never been in conflict with each other. Their relations were excellent. No members of Golubovic family have ever had a brush with members of Hukara family. We had good relations as neighbours. The relation between Avdija Hukara and Blagoje’s father were the best possible relations,” Golubovic said.

Jadranka Golubovic, who appeared as the second witness at this hearing, told the Court that she left Strganci village, in which she had lived as of April 1992, on May 15, 1992, after “an attack” had begun.

“There was some shooting and we were afraid. We found shelter in the woods. On May 15 we went to Miljevina. All of us, all members of our families went. Blagoje was with us as well. We stayed in some single people’s hotel. There were people who slept outside. They did not receive us very well in Miljevina,” the witness recalled.

Following the examination of these witnesses, the Trial Chamber proposed to the Defence to reduce the list of its witnesses.

“The Chamber finds that the list of witnesses, who will testify in certain circumstances, is too big. This Court does not consider it relevant to examine ten different witnesses about the same circumstances,” said Trial Chamber Chairwoman Mira Smajlovic, informing the Defence that the Chamber approved eight proposed witnesses only.

It was not mentioned in the courtroom how many witnesses the Defence had originally proposed.

The trial is due to continue on June 29, when three new Defence witnesses will be examined.