Kornjaca Retrial Begins

Under a first instance verdict from May 2014, Kornjaca was acquitted of charges of having failed to punish subordinate Veljo Tadic. Tadic killed 27 civilians in a hunting lodge on May 19, 1992, and contributed to the murder of civilians from the village of Brdo. Kornjaca was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.

Under the same verdict, Kornjaca was found guilty of detaining and beating Bosniak civilians who were held in a metal container in Mostina. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

In March the appellate chamber confirmed the portion of the verdict dealing with the conviction. However, it quashed the acquittal, and ordered a retrial for two counts in the indictment.

The prosecution said it would prove that Kornjaca had command authority over Veldjo Tadic, and failed to undertake disciplinary measures against him. The prosecution also charged Kornjaca with aiding in the abduction and arrest of persons from the village of Brdo, who were taken to Mostina.

The prosecution proposed that statements given by a certain number of witnesses be heard in the courtroom.

Rade Golic, Kornjaca’s new defense attorney, said he would not present an introductory statement and would need at least fifteen days to prepare a proposal for the defense’s evidence presentation.

The trial will continue on April 7.