Predrag Djurovic Verdict Expected October 30

At today’s hearing, posecutor Nedzad Corovic said it had been proven beyond a doubt that Djurovic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, raped a Bosniak woman in an abandoned building in late 1992, while threatening to kill both her and her child.

Corovic reminded the court that the injured party’s statement, which was read at the trial, described the crime in detail.

“The victim’s husband was present when she was abducted from her house. He knew the defendant very well and identified him in the courtroom,” Corovic said.

Corovic said other witnesses also confirmed the allegations in the indictment, adding that a court expert determined that the crime had caused severe damage to the injured party’s health.

“I propose that the court consider the fact that the defendant is currently serving a sentence for sexual abuse at the Penal and Correctional Facility in Foca as an aggravating circumstance and sentence him to at least eight years in prison,” Corovic said.

In his closing statement, defense attorney Gavrilo Gunjak said the prosecution hadn’t been able to prove that Djurovic had committed the rape.

“The defense presented stamped medical documentation referring to the defendant in 1992 and 1993. These are the facts, which tell us that my client was wounded and underwent medical treatment…It is alleged that the event happened on an undetermined date during the winter,” Gunjak said.

Gunjak said the defendant was innocent and wasn’t a member of the Bosnian Serb Army during the time period covered by the indictment.

“The defense proposes that my client be acquitted of the charges against him and that custody measures be terminated,” Gunjak said.

Djurovic addressed the trial chamber and said he was innocent.

The trial began in February 2015.