Local Justice – Mostar: Temporary Mental Derangement

Abdulah Kucukalic, court expert in psychiatry, appeared before the Cantonal Court in Mostar and presented his findings and opinion about indictee Jakovljevic’s mental health and level of mental soundness when he allegedly committed the crime.

Kucukalic said that the indictee was examined at the Psychiatric Clinic in Sarajevo at the beginning of March this year.

“On the basis of available documents and examination of the indictee, we have not noticed any illness of psychotic nature, but we have realised that his intellectual capabilities are modest. It has been determined that Jakovljevic had consumed alcohol for a long period of time, which led to psychosis and dementia. The alleged crime was committed in 1993. Since we did not have any medical reports from that year, we analysed the documentation issued in 1999. We have doubtlessly concluded that his health was damaged due to alcohol consumption in that period of time,” Kucukalic said.

The Cantonal Prosecution in Mostar charges Jakovljevic, former member of the “Rama” Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, with having treated a civilian prisoner, the youth Enes Konjaric, in an inhumane manner in Zahum village, Prozor/Rama municipality and killed Elvedin Konjaric.

Kucukalic said that the death of the indictee’s brother could have influenced his behaviour in 1993, adding that it led to an increase in indictee’s distrustfulness, tension and frustration.

“By analysing the medical documentation and considering the fact that his brother had been killed six months before the event, one can say that all those things led to frustration, affective irritability and insecurity. These factors certainly influenced his health and reduced tolerance, which resulted in decreased mental soundness. Therefore, the most correct definition of his state in 1993 would be temporary mental derangement,” Kucukalic said.

Considering the fact that, according to medical reports, Jakovljevic began his treatment in 1999 and has not consumed alcohol since, Kucukalic determined that the indictee “has fully recovered”, which means that he was capable of attending the trial.

Hamza Zujo, court expert in pathology, presented his findings and opinion at this hearing. He said that fifteen-year old Elvedin Konjaric was identified in 1998, adding that no visible injures or fractures could be seen on the found bones.

The trial is due to continue on June 21.
S.G.