Ballistic Findings Presented at Mrdja and Kokot Trial

The state prosecution has charged Goran Mrdja, Milorad Mrdja, Ranko Mrdja and Mile Kokot, all former members of the Sixth Sanska Infantry Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, with participating in crimes against Bosniaks in the Sanski Most area from 1992 to 1994. The alleged crimes include acts of murder, rape, assault, theft, as well as other kinds of mental and physical abuse.

Ballistics expert Milko Maric testified at today’s hearing. He said he was a staff member of the crime detection section in Banja Luka and that he examined weapons, bullet casings and bullets related to alleged victims of the defendants on May 25, 1993.

The first part of Maric’s findings referred to the attempted murder of Sefer Pasalic. Maric said his examination revealed that three bullet casings belonged to a Crvena Zastava pistol, which had been provided to him. The bullet itself, Maric explained, belonged the same pistol. However, it was damaged after having passed through an obstacle and was thus inadequate for comparison.

The second bullet casing of interest was related to the murder of Hasib Delic. Maric’s examination revealed that the casing matched the pistol described in the Sefer Pasalic case.

Maric conducted the examination with his colleague Zeljko Popovic, who presented the same opinion at today’s hearing.

Goran Mrdja’s defense asked the experts why they hadn’t prepared photo documentation of the examination. They said they didn’t have the material resources to do so during that year of the war.

The prosecution included the findings in the case file. The defense objected, arguing that the findings were submitted without the pistol, bullet casings and bullets, which was not in accordance with the law.

The trial will continue on November 30.