Hodzic Defense Proposes Including Medical Findings in Case File

The defense of Nedzad Hodzic proposed that medical findings on the defendant’s health be included in the case file. The state prosecution objected to this proposal, on the grounds that the same evidence had already been included in the case file.

Hodzic, a former member of the Zulfikar Unit of the Bosnian Army, has been charged with the torture, assault and sexual abuse of Serb prisoners on Mount Igman in the municipality of Hadzici in 1993.

Hodzic was originally on trial with Dzevad Salcin. His case was separated from Salcin’s pending a decision on whether he’s fit to stand trial or not.

At today’s hearing, defense attorney Nedzla Sehic said all of her findings confirmed that Hodzic suffered from severe health problems.

Prosecutor Vladimir Simovic objected to including the medical findings in the case file, on the grounds that they had already been included during the examination of court experts at the trial.

“Hodzic was faking his illness. This has been our thesis the entire time. During his examination, Hodzic started behaving as if he was unfit to stand trial,” Simovic said.

Defense attorney Sehic said she wanted to include the medical findings in the case file because they indicated that Hodzic’s ability to stand trial couldn’t be determined and would also address the suspicions held by the prosecution.

Simovic suggested that the court experts who assessed Hodzic’s health be examined at the trial. Sehic objected to this proposal, because the same experts had already been examined at another trial against Hodzic and four other members of the Bosnian Army charged with war crimes in Trusina, near Konjic.

The trial chamber ordered Sehic to prepare a list of findings and opinions by court experts, so that Simovic could respond to them and determine whether they had already been included in the case file or not.

The next hearing will be held on July 2.