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Trial Chamber Chairman Davorin Jukic said that the presentation of evidence at the trial of Kovacevic would begin on August 15, after the summer holidays. He said that, considering the fact that the indictee was held in custody, the parties would bear “the expediency of the process” in mind.
The Chamber approved a request by the indictee, who wanted to be represented at this trial by attorney Senad Dupovac instead of Edin Sabanovic.
The State Prosecution charges Kovacevic with having participated, along with unidentified members of the Croatian Defence Forces, HOS and Croatian Army, HV, in the murders, torture, unlawful detention, pillaging and destruction of property owned by Serb civilians in Bosanski Brod in the spring and summer of 1992.
The indictment alleges that Kovacevic was member of the Interventions Squad with the First Bosanski Brod Brigade in that period of time.
Kovacevic was arrested in Sweden in December 2010. He was extradited to Bosnia and Herzegovina in late October last year. He has been held in custody since.
During the status conference the Defence of the indictee asked the Trial Chamber to appoint an additional ex-officio attorney for Kovacevic and to allow his transfer from the Penal and Correctional Facility in Zenica to Sarajevo so they can have consultations more often.
“I am brought to court under armed escort. I do not understand why this is happening. Somebody should explain it to me. Also, I was due to appear in court at noon the last time, but they brought me at around 8 a.m. Everything was done in 20 minutes, but I only arrived in Zenica at around 5 p.m. I cannot stand that,” Kovacevic said.
Judge Jukic said that the work of court police was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that the Court would render a decision about the indictee’s request for transfer to a detention unit in Sarajevo at a later stage.
