Zecevic et al: Human Rights Course Completed

Mirko Sovilj, an expert in orthopedic surgery and traumatology, said that, on the basis of an examination of Knezevic’s wartime injury and review of old medical reports, he concluded that the indictee had a multiple fracture in the foot area after having been wounded from firearms.

Court expert Sovilj was not able to determine how long the indictee’s recovery lasted or when he was able to walk again.

“On the basis of the medical documents it has been determined that Knezevic was admitted to the General Hospital in Prijedor on May 28, 1992 and released seven days later. He was examined by a general surgeon. The medical findings are incomplete, so I can only assume how long the patient’s recovery lasted,” the court expert said, adding that, in the case of such injuries, patients normally needed about a month and a half to recover.

The court expert said that, after having examined Knezevic recently, he determined that his medical treatment was successful.

Besides Knezevic, Sasa Zecevic, Petar Civcic, Marinko Ljepoja and Branko Topola are charged with the murder of about 200 men, who had been separated from a convoy traveling from Prijedor to Travnik on August 21, 1992, at Koricanske stijene.

The State Prosecution’s indictment alleges that Civcic was Commander of the Squad’s First Section, while Zecevic, Knezevic and Ljepoja were members of the Squad. Topola was allegedly member of the Territorial Defence and guard in Trnopolje detention camp.

After the court expert had presented his findings and opinion, the Defence of Radoslav Knezevic presented a few pieces of material evidence, including a decision on employment with the Public Safety Station in Banja Luka, deployment to Prijedor as policeman and certificate on completion of the United Nation’s human rights course.

“With these pieces of evidence the Defence is supporting its thesis that the indictee did not commit the crime charged upon him by the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Defence attorney Ivan Vujin said.

The Defence of Radoslav Knezevic announced that it would give up the examination of Darko Mrdja, as it had not been possible to establish communication with The Hague convict, who is serving his sentence in Spain.

“Spanish authorities informed me that it was not possible to establish contact,” Defence attorney Vujin said.

In 2003 Mrdja, former member of the Interventions Squad with the Public Safety Station in Prijedor, admitted guilt for the murder of civilians at Koricanske stijene. The Hague Tribunal then sentenced him to 17 years in prison.

The trial is due to continue on December 22, 2011.J.Ð.