Trial of Samir Bejtic Begins, for the Fourth Time
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At the beginning of the retrial, the indictment was read. Bejtic said he chose to stick by the defense he presented during the investigation and main trial and had nothing new to add.
The cantonal prosecution of Sarajevo has charged Bejtic, a former member of the Tenth Mountain Brigade of the Bosnian Army, with taking unlawfully mobilized civilian Zoran Vucurevic in front of a division line held by the Bosnian Army on December 25, 1992. There, Bejtic allegedly killed him with two bullets fired from his handgun. He then allegedly poured diluting fluid over his body to hide traces of the killing. This count charges Bejtic with war crimes. The indictment contains three other counts charging him with murder.
In 2015, the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina repealed the last verdict handed down by the cantonal court of Sarajevo, which acquitted Bejtic and returned the case back to the cantonal court for a retrial.
The cantonal court of Sarajevo acquitted Bejtic in December 2011 as well. In 2006, he was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison.
Bejtic was arrested in Germany 14 years ago and was extradited to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Three witnesses will be examined before the chamber, chaired by Jasenko Ruzic, on March 9.
