Mato Condric Verdict Expected September 18

The defense of Mato Condric called for a not guilty verdict at today’s closing hearing. The Bosnian state court is expected to hand down its verdict on September 18.

Mato Condric, a former member of the military police of the Croatian Defense Council, has been charged with allowing two unidentified Croatian Defense Council members rape a woman in the boiler room of the Polet football stadium in Bosanski Brod in late July or early August 1992.

According to the charges, Condric pointed a gun at the victim and sexually abused and humiliated her after her rape. He has also been charged with mentally and physically abusing two others.

In his closing statement, defense attorney Davor Silic said the Bosnian state prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate that Condric allowed and participated in the sexual abuse of the injured party.

In his closing statement Silic commented on testimony given by protected state prosecution witness and injured party N.H., claiming she gave different descriptions of the event on different occasions.

“N.H. mentioned my client’s name for the first time in 2014. We consider this was a result of leading questions. Later on, the injured party said she had a dilemma and couldn’t remember Mato’s last name,” Silic said.

Silic also commented on the testimony given by witness Slobodanka Vidic, who said she was detained with N.H, but didn’t remember anyone taking her out of the Silos detention camp.

“Vidic said she couldn’t remember a person by the name of Mato Condric,” Silic said. Silic said a mix-up of identities could have occurred.
Silic said Condrc was severely wounded in July 1992 and that he couldn’t have been physically present in the Silos detention camp during the period covered under the indictment.

Condric the addressed the trial chamber, claiming he had nothing to do with the allegations made against him and that he was an decent man.

In its closing statement the state prosecution called for a guilty verdict.