Bosnian Court Protects War Crime Defendants “Intimate Life”

The testimony of Milica Djekic was partially closed to the public on Tuesday even though she said she wanted to testify in open session. The decision was made, because the Trial chamber said it wanted to protect the intimate life of the four defendants.

President of the Trial chamber Jasmina Kosovic said that the chamber made this decision to exclude the public when the witness discusses “the concrete acts which are part of the charges”.

The Bosnian prosecution charges Marijan Brnjic, Martin Barukcic and Pavo and Ilija Glavas, former members of the 102 Brigade of the Bosnian Croat Army, of raping, abusing and humiliating Bosnian Serb female detainees in different facilities in Odzak.

Djekic said in the partially open part of the session that she lived in Novi Grad until the start of June 1992, when two vehicles with Bosnian Croat fighter came.

“They had uniforms and Croatian Defence Council markings. When they came, they yelled and cursed”, said the witness.

She said that her sister told her to open the door and they were forced outside, after which they were removed with two other persons.

“I recognized Marijan Brnjic, Pavo and Ilija Glavas and Martinac Barukcic”, said the witness and added there was another man called Ilija.

Djekic recognized all four defendants, saying they were neighbours of her sister and that she went to Glavas’s house to visit his sister, when she was ill.

After the witness recognized the defendants, she said that Martinac Barukcic is in fact Martin Barukcic the defendant and then the public was excluded.

After the public came back inside the courtroom, journalists heard that the witness told other female persons about what she survived.

The trial continues on November 18.