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The Cavalic brothers were pronounced guilty of causing severe bodily injuries to Blagoje Djuras, who was slaughtered by other HVO members in the Yugoslav National Army, JNA Center later on, and physically abusing Pero Novakovic in that same facility, as well as beating prisoners in Rabic detention camp, near Derventa.
“The Court has not accepted the Defence’s allegations that the indictees were in Pula from May 15, 1992 onwards and statements given by their witnesses. The Chamber has determined, on the basis of witnesses’ statements, that the indictees were members of HVO, although no formal evidence proves it,” Trial Chamber Chairwoman Radmila Stancic said.
She said that the Court considered the fact that numerous actions were undertaken when committing the crimes as an aggravating circumstance, while the fact that 21 years have passed since the commission of the crimes was considered a mitigating circumstance.
The Cavalic brothers and their Defence attorneys Miodrag Stojanovic and Mensur Radoncic did not attend the pronouncement of the verdict.
The parties have the right to file an appeal against the verdict with the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska.
The trial of Esad and Dervis Cavalic began in October last year.
