Gojkovic Trial Begins at Sarajevo Cantonal Court

Gojkovic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with raping a woman in the neighbourhood of Grbavica and acting contrary to conventions on the protection of civilians during wartime.

According to the indictment, Gojkovic, a man known as Batko, and two unidentified members of the Bosnian Serb Army went to J.N.’s house on the night of September 29, 1992. J.N., his wife ST-1 and their two year old daughter were in the house.

While one of the soldiers kept watch at the front door, Gojkovic allegedly raped and sexually abused ST-1. He threatened her, and then proceeded to anally and vaginally rape her in an extremely brutal manner in front of her husband. Batko and an unknown soldier forced J.N. to watch his wife’s rape.

Batko then allegedly killed J.N., while ST-1 ran away with her child to a neighbour’s house.

In her opening statement, prosecutor Nives Kanevcev said she would prove through witness testimony and material evidence that Gojkovic committed war crimes against the civilian population in the manner described in the indictment. Kanevcev said she would examine four witnesses (three of whom would be protected witnesses) and one court expert.

Kanevcev also proposed that the public be excluded from hearings in which ST-1 would give testimony or be examined.

In her opening statement, Zorana Carkic, Gojkovic’s defense attorney, said she planned on challenging the evidence and allegations brought forth by the prosecution. She said the defense would prove that this case was a drastic example of mistaken identity. Carkic said her client was innocent and had nothing do with Batko’s actions, stating that her client was not present at the scene or time of the crime.

Carkic expressed her sympathy for the injured parties, and requested that the trial chamber order the prosecution to disclose the identity and all evidence pertaining to ST-1.

Carkic was unable to comment on an article which defines the right of the defense to access unedited evidence, and said she would file a written motion instead.

The prosecution objected to this proposal, and said it brought into question the state court’s decision to provide ST-1 with protective measures.

“Now I’m wondering who we’re protecting the witness (who’s been endangered by threats) from. From the public or the defendant? It’s up to the prosecution to decide whether it will provide you with the name. We shall render a decision after we receive the written motion from the defense,” judge Husnija Delalic said.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed its indictment against Gojkovic on January 6, 2015. A month later the case was referred to the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo. Prohibitive measures, including a ban on leaving Rogatica (his place of residence), have been ordered against Gojkovic.

The Bosnian state court previously sentenced Veselin Vlahovic, also known as Batko, to 42 years in prison for war crimes committed in the Grbavica, Vraca and Kovacici neighbourhoods in Sarajevo.

The trial will continue on May 29.