Examination of Ballistics Expert at Mladic Trial Completed

The indictment alleges that Mladic, the wartime commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, terrorized the civilian population of Sarajevo with mine-thrower and sniper attacks.

During his additional examination by defense attorney Branko Lukic, Poparic repeated the main conclusions from his report on 17 sniper attacks in Sarajevo listed in the indictment. The attacks resulted in the death and injury of civilians during the Bosnian war.

Contrary to the allegations in the indictment, Poparic said the civilians were not shot at by Bosnian Serb Army snipers, but from positions in the downtown area held by the Bosnian Army. He said the casualties were also caused by cross-fire or ricocheting bullets.

During Poparic’s cross-examination, prosecutors refuted his findings, and argued that civilians, including children, in Sarajevo were exposed to intentional fire by Bosnian Serb snipers. However, Poparic stuck to his findings.

The defense will present the judges with a new witness on Monday, November 9.

Mladic has also been charged with genocide in Srebrenica, the persecution of Bosniaks and Croats throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina (which reached the scale of genocide in six municipalities), and taking UNPROFOR members hostage.