Presentation of Evidence at Krsmanovic Trial Completed
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The prosecution included a portion of the film as evidence in the case file. The documentary footage supported testimony given by witnesses who were examined during the trial.
On October 22, 1992, Krsmanovic allegedly participated in the kidnapping of sixteen Bosniak civilians from Sjeverin, who were then beaten and killed at the Vilina Vlas Hotel.
The seven minute documentary clip screened in the courtroom depicted family members of the victims, who described how the victims were intercepted by a truck while taking the bus to work on the morning of October 22, 1992. According to the family members, the victims were then transported to Visegrad.
The truck stopped in front of the Visegrad police station, the documentary claims, and witnesses said Milan Lukic and Oliver Krsmanovic were present. The UN-backed Hague tribunal previously sentenced Lukic to life imprisonment for his crimes in Visegrad.
The defense presented additional evidence to the court, namely a report from the examination of a witness, regarding the accusation that Krsmanovic participated in the disappearance of Hamed Oprasic.
Krsmanovic said he had met this witness in Visegrad recently. He said she had told him that he was right about her husband’s kidnapping, and that another woman had confirmed his version of events.
Mirko Lekic objected to having this witness testify, since she had already been examined twice.
Lekic said the witness told the state prosecution that she had encountered Krsmanovic. He said she had “found the courage” to ask about the fate of her husband, and that Krsmanovic had said that he didn’t know what happened to him. According to Lekic, they argued for approximately five minutes before parting ways.
The chamber rejected the defense’s proposal to invite the witness to testify again and scheduled the prosecution’s closing statement for May 19.
The indictment alleges that Krsmanovic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, participated in acts of murder, rape and inhumane treatment. His trial began in January 2012.
