A Deceased Witness’ Statement Read

At today’s hearing of a trial dealing with an incident of wartime rape committed in Kotor-Varos by Serb forces, the prosecution read a statement by deceased victim Ante Antunovic.

As per a request by prosecutor Olivera Djuric, the public was removed from the courtroom while Antunovic’s statement was read, in order to protect the identity of a protected witness.

The prosecution has charged Bosiljko and Ostoja Markovic, former members of the Kotor-Varos Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, with having raped an underage female.

The indictment alleges that the defendants and another person raped the victim inside a moving minivan several times.

The first witness of Bosiljko Markovic’s defense was scheduled to testify at this hearing, but she failed to respond to the court summons.

Defence attorney Nebojsa Pantic said that he has not contacted the witness and that he has received information that she is in a geriatric center in Banja Luka. Pantic requested the court to summon her again, promising that he would contact her at the center.

The trial is scheduled to continue on February 10.