State Prosecution Calls for Guilty Sentence in Bjelica and Tripkovic Trial
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Prosecutor Cazim Hasanspahic said the court should consider the way in which the crime was committed and the number of victims as aggravating circumstances, along with the severe brutality of the crimes.
He also said the court should consider the previous sentences of the defendants as additional aggravating circumstances.
The state prosecution has charged Bjelica and Tripkovic with beating and killing detainees Suad Hasanbegovic, Edin Bico, Seid Keso and Hasim Hatic in the Milan Radojevic school building in Kalinovik on August 1, 1992, or approximately around that date. They were allegedly accompanied by Marinko Bjelica. Detainee Seid Keso died from his injuries during the same evening. The defendants allegedly killed the three other detainees on the following day.
Hasanspahic, who began presenting his closing statement on March 9, said the prosecution had presented evidence on the basis of which the chamber could determine that the defendants were guilty.
According to the charges, the defendants committed the crimes with Marinko Bjelica. The proceedings against Marinko Bjelica were separated during the trial due to his poor health.
Commenting on testimony given by prosecution witness Branko Sladoje, Hasanspahic said he mentioned key facts regarding the identity of the defendants and their actions. He said his testimony was supported by the testimony of other witnesses.
“There was a reason why the witnesses heard screams, saw blood-stained overcoats, saw something wrapped in blankets being carried and loaded onto a truck,” Hasanspahic said.
He said the exhumation and identification of Hasanbegovic, Bico and Keso had been conducted. He said Hasim Hatic was still considered missing.
Hasanspahic said the defense teams had not denied the prosecution’s evidence. Hasanspahic said Bjelica’s alibi hadn’t been proven. He said material evidence confirming that he had been in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a member of the Bosnian Serb Army was included in the case file.
The defense teams will present their closing statements on March 30.
