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Trial chamber chair Jasminka Karabegovic said the cantonal prosecution had demonstrated that Sovilj and Galic participated in the murder of Mehmed Harambasic.
“It has been undoubtedly determined that the defendants were members of the VRS, that they had automatic weapons and that local residents of Sanica were persecuted. Defendant Sovilj admitted to firing three or four bullets and being accompanied by Galic. The chamber does not find their testimony, in which they said they took Harambasic with them, and that Harambasic seized their rifle and Sovilj shot at him in self defense, acceptable,“ Karabegovic said.
According to Karabegovic, the defense’s claims that the defendants voluntarily reported Harambasic’s death was also not acceptable, because witnesses Stojan Kajic and Milanko Banjac said they saw Sovilj and Galic being arrested.
Due to their poor financial situation, the defendants have been exempted from paying the costs of the criminal proceedings. The time they spent in custody, December 2014 to February 2015, will be calculated towards their sentence.
The parties have the right to file appeals against this verdict with the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
