Krsmanovic Defense Presents Closing Statement, Calls for Acquittal

In its closing statement, Oliver Krsmanovic’s defense called on the court to hand down a verdict of acquittal, claiming that none of the 11 counts charging Krsmanovic with war crimes in Visegrad had been proven.

Krsmanovic’s defense attorney, Slavisa Prodanovic, said his client wouldn’t have been indicted if it wasn’t for the Sjeverin case. The Sjeverin case refers to the kidnapping, torture and execution of 16 Bosniak citizens from Sjeverin, Serbia, by Bosnian Serb forces in 1992.

Krsmanovic and Bosnian Serb commander Milan Lukic were prosecuted for their role in the Sjeverin killings. Krsmanovic was sentenced to 20 years of prison in absentia in Serbia, whereas the Hague Tribunal sentenced Lukic to life in prison for the Sjeverin killings and other war crimes in Visegrad.

“The Sjeverin events led people to conclude that he [Krsmanovic] must have participated in all events with Lukic,” Prodanovic said.

Commenting on witness testimony related to charges of enforced disappearance, murder, rape, torture and other crimes committed in 1992, Prodanovic said some witnesses mentioned Krsmanovic only after he had been arrested.

“A witness accused the defendant of his brother’s death at the trial, but when asked why he had failed to mention it before, he said he heard about it after his arrest,” Prodanovic said, commenting on a count charging Krsmanovic with the inhumane treatment of civilians in the village of Crnca.

Prodanovic argued that as far as several counts were concerned, witnesses didn’t mention Krsmanovic in their initial statements or during Lukic’s trial at the Hague.

Prodanovic found it inappropriate that the Hague Tribunal failed to allow him to invite protected witnesses who hadn’t mentioned Krsmanovic in relation to the Bikavac fire, in which 60 Bosniak civilians were burned alive by Bosnian Serb forces.

With regards to charges that Krsmanovic raped a woman in the Vilina Vlas hotel, Prodanovic said the woman assumed she’d been raped by Krsmanovic, but was unable to recognize him – although she claimed she knew him well.

Prodanovic said another witness who accused Krsmanovic of participating in forcing another person to commit rape was untrustworthy and an alcoholic.

“The defense presented a statement given by the son of this witness, who said his father had been a problematic person his whole life and that he would say anything for money,” Prodanovic said.

Prodanovic also claimed some of the witnesses were blackmailed into testifying.

Prodanovic said the defense hadn’t denied that Krsmanovic participated in kidnapping of civilians from Sjeverin in October 1992, but that the indictment at hand failed to describe his role in other crimes.

Prodanovic said soldiers had asked Krsmanovic to drive captives to an exchange location with his truck. He departed with the captives, but while he was on the road, he realized they were civilians. He said he didn’t participate in their murder.

“We expect you to pronounce a verdict in accordance with the law. When politics knocks at the door, justice jumps out the window,” Prodanovic said.

Addressing the trial chamber, Krsmanovic said he had already expressed his regrets for all the victims during the entire trial and did so again.

He said a settlement was offered to him during the investigation in return for providing information on the location of a mass grave. He said he was told that “the politics had taken root” in his case.

The trial chamber scheduled the verdict for July 17.