First Defence Witness on November 13

During a status conference held prior to the beginning of the presentation of the Defence’s evidence the Trial Chamber announced that the Defence for indictee Kovacevic would examine its first witness on November 13. 

The Defence said that, only after it had examined the first witness, it would decide whether it would invite some other witnesses. It also said that it planned to examine an expert witness in military issues. 

Kovacevic, former member of the Interventions Squad with the First Bosanski Brod Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, is charged with having committed crimes against Serb civilians in Sijekovac village in collaboration with unidentified members of the Croatian Defence Forces, HOS, and Croatian Army, HV.

The indictment alleges that Kovacevic participated in an attack on Sijekovac and that, acting in collaboration with the others, he took 15 adults and four Serb children, some of whom were killed, out of their houses into a yard. 

The trial of Kovacevic began in July last year, one year after he had been extradited from Sweden to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Prior to the beginning of the status conference the Trial Chamber decided that the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina would present the remaining pieces of material evidence at the next hearing.