Extension of Custody for Coloman Requested
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Prosecutor Gordana Tadic briefly said that she considered that, while at liberty, the indictee might influence witnesses and that an investigation against a person, who was suspected of having committed this crime together with Coloman, was still underway.
The Defence objected to the proposal, saying that the only person who might possibly be influenced lived in the United States and that nobody had put pressure on witnesses during this process so far.
“Why should the indictee be held in custody due to the inefficiency of the Prosecution, which has not been able to identify a person for 22 years. It wants the indictee to remain in custody until it has identified that person. Other people are suffering due to the custody measure. I therefore ask you to release him,” said Defence attorney Senad Dupovac.
According to the charges, Coloman, former member of the Reconnaissance Squad with the Seventh Muslim Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was allegedly armed on that occasion, came in front of a centre in Poculice village, where Croat civilians were detained, on April 24, 1993.
After a facility guard refused to unlock the door and let the indictee in, he allegedly opened a burst of fire from an automatic gun through the closed door. It is alleged that three Croats were killed and nine were wounded on that occasion.
Coloman addressed the Court, saying that his children had nothing to eat, because of his stay in detention.
“My children are hungry. I send them my breakfast and lunch from the detention unit. I have a huge problem with that. My children are hungry, when they come to visit me…You can put whatever you want as long as I am close to my home,” said the indictee, who has been held in custody since his arrest in June this year.
The Court will render a decision concerning the extension of custody at a later stage.
Prior to this hearing a Prosecution witness was examined at Coloman’s trial but the Court prohibited the publishing of his testimony.
The trial is due to continue on September 26.
