Gajic: Apology for ‘a Monstrous Act’

The pronouncement of the verdict is due to take place on June 16 this year.

Gajic, a former member of the “Orlovi Grmeca” (“The Eagles of Grmec”) Reconnaissance Squad with the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, admitted having killed a member of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, who had been captured, with a bayonet in Sokolac village, Bihac municipality in November 1994.

Indictee Gajic briefly addressed the Trial Chamber, saying that he “apologised to the family of the killed man for the monstrous act”.

The guilt admission agreement proposes that Gajic be sentenced to between five and eight years in prison.

State Prosecutor Dragan Corlija said that there was sufficient evidence to prove that Gajic committed the crime, adding that, considering the way in which the crime was committed, a sentence close to the maximum proposed one should be pronounced.

“Nedzad Dizdarevic was slaughtered in front of many witnesses. The video recording, which the media broadcast recently, clearly shows that Dizdarevic, who was 20 at the time, was weak. He left a wife and a child younger than one year old behind,” Corlija said.

Predrag Radulovic, Defence attorney of the indictee, pointed out that, by admitting guilt, Gajic had begun “his own rehabilitation”, adding that “the sentence is less important to the person who comprehends and admits the crime he committed”.

“My client has not had peace of mind for years. I believe that, through his relations with his own kids he realised what he had done to the child of the murdered person. I have noticed that his regret is sincere and he is firmly determined to admit the crime… Neither the prison bars not the passage of time will be able to change it. I am aware of the fact that, not even the maximum sentence will correct the situation, but I am asking you to pronounce a sentence within the proposed range,” Radulovic said.

The trial of Pavle Gajic began on May 17 this year.