Verdict in Jasmin Coloman Trial Expected in July

Coloman, a former member of the Seventh Muslim Brigade of the Bosnian Army has been charged with killing civilians who were held at a center in the village of Poculice on April 24, 1993. Coloman allegedly opened fire at the civilians from an automatic weapon, killing three people and wounding nine more.

“We believe we’ve proven that Jasmin Coloman committed the crime described in the indictment, that he participated in the murder of three Croat civilians and wounded nine more. We therefore propose that the court find the defendant guilty,” prosecutor Gorada Tadic said in her closing statement.

Tadic described testimony given by prosecution witnesses about the events that took place on April 24, 1993.

She reminded the court of testimony given by witness Refik Mujezinovic, who said he drove two unidentified soldiers to the village center in Poculice that day.

“He heard a strong burst of gunfire. After that, the two soldiers returned and told him to drive them back. Mujezinovic recognized Coloman in the courtroom, and said he was one of those two soldiers,” Tadic said.

Coloman’s defense attorney, Senad Dupovac, said the entire indictment was based on Mujezinovic’s testimony, which he described as not trustworthy. Dupovac called for the release of his client.

“The testimony given by all of the other witnesses were substantially different from Mujezinovic’s. This includes the testimony of the injured parties, who I trust the most,” Dupovac said.

Commenting on Mujezinovic’s testimony, Dupovac said Mujezinovic had said two soldiers approached him on April 24, 1993, and asked him to drive them.

“Nedzad Sivro said he saw Mujezinovic talking to one soldier, while Mujezinovic said there were two. Sivro said the soldier kept his rifle next to his leg and didn’t say that the rifle was pointed at Mujezinovic. Mujezinovic said he drove up to the entrance of the center, while the guard said two soldiers approached the center on foot,” he said.

Dupovac said the prosecution witnesses were inconsistent in describing the events of that day. He said one couldn’t conclude that Coloman was guilty on the basis of their testimony.

“We don’t know how many attackers there were, one or two, how they came to that location, who else was there, or how they left,” Dupovac said.

Coloman addressed the court. He said he was in the war and no one had ever told that he’d done anything criminal.

“I fought for this country and now the country wants to try me. Please be fair,” Coloman said.

The verdict will be handed down on July 6.