Prosecution Calls for Guilty Verdict in Ilija Juric Trial

The indictment alleges that Juric, a former member of the 102nd Brigade of the Croatian Defense Council (HVO), raped and sexually abused a Serb woman in a house in Posavska Mahala in the municipality of Odzak on the night of June 4 or 5, 1992.

The Bosnian state prosecution has also charged Juric with intercepting and mistreating two Serb women, Darinka and Nada Lesic, with other soldiers in July 1992. The women were with their children, walking towards a school building in Odzak, where their husbands were detained.

At today’s hearing, prosecutor Miroslav Janjic said the prosecution’s evidence had proven Juric’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

“The victims were civilians protected by conventions…The defendant was a member of the HVO and he used his superior position. He took Milica Djekic out of her house, separated her from her underage children and sexually abused her. Djekic recognized the defendant in the courtroom,” Janjic said.

Janjic said the injured parties in the case are Serb women and children. He said the testimony of various witnesses was the same and remained unchanged during cross-examination.

“We believe the defense hasn’t presented any significant piece of evidence, except for one, which didn’t manage to devalue the prosecution’s evidence. I propose that the court find the defendant guilty and sentence him in accordance with the law,” Janjic said.

The trial will continue on October 26, when the defense will present its closing statement.