Bosnian Serb Soldier Jailed for Prisoners’ Beating, Murder
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The verdict said that he took the two prisoners, Bosnian Croat fighters Mato Markovic and Milan Nikic, from the basement of a post office in Knezevo on October 2 or 3, 1992.
He drove them to the village of Borak, where the Bosnian Serb Army held positions, and then beat them up.
“Sevarika hit Markovic with his fist. When Markovic fell down, he approached him, holding a knife. A soldier shouted at him, saying: ‘Serbs do not slaughter people. Do not slaughter him,’” the verdict said.
After Nikic started running away, Bosnian Serb soldiers killed him, while Sevarika killed Markovic.
Presiding judge Snjezana Kudric said that Sevarika’s guilt had been proved beyond doubt.
“By presenting evidence and examining its witnesses, the prosecution has proved that the crime was committed in the manner described in the indictment,” Kudric said.
Sevarika’s brother Ranko was also originally charged in the case, but the district prosecution dropped the indictment during the course of the proceedings.
The verdict can be appealed.
