Kornjaca et al: Trial Start Date Still Uncertain

25. October 2010.16:23
The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has agreed to allow indictee Milun Kornjaca to undergo coronary artery screening in Banja Luka in order to determine whether he is capable of following the trial.

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At a pre-trial status conference in the case of Milun Kornjaca, Milorad Zivkovic and Dusko Tadic, who are charged with crimes committed in Cajnice area, the Trial Chamber said that Kornjaca could undergo the medical treatment in a hospital in Banja Luka, but the coronorography could probably not be carried out before February 2011.

Kornjaca asked the Court previously for permission to undergo the screening at a hospital in Banja Luka, saying he didn’t feel safe in Sarajevo.

When asked by Trial Chamber Chairman Darko Samardzic how he was feeling and whether he would be able to follow the trial until February, indictee Kornjaca said he wanted to attend the trial, but he was not able to do it because of health problems.

“Honourable Court, I am not ready for any trial. I take 20 pills a day. My health condition is getting worse every day,” Kornjaca said.

Kornjaca, Zivkovic and Tadic are charged with having participated in a broad and systematic attack against the non-Serb population in Cajnice municipality, as well as the detention, torture, murder and forcible resettlement of civilians from that area from April to the end of May 1992.

The Prosecution charges them with having participated in the murder of 11 civilians, who were detained in a hunting cabin in Mostina, by shooting from automatic rifles and throwing hand grenades.

The indictment alleges that Kornjaca was Commander of the Plavi orlovi (Blue Eagles) paramilitary unit, Tadic was a member of the same unit and Zivkovic was Chief of the Public Safety Station in Cajnice and a member of the Crisis Committee in that town.

The State Court confirmed the indictment against them in June 2010. After the three indictees pleaded not guilty, it was decided that the trial would begin on September 6.

If indictee Kornjaca has not undergone the medical examination by February, the Defence of Zivkovic and Tadic said they would like the cases to be separated in order for the trial to begin.

The Trial Chamber said it would render a decision concerning the possible separation of the cases by the next hearing.

Dragana Erjavec


This post is also available in: Bosnian