Bosnian Serb Soldier Acquitted of Sokolac Beating

He was cleared of beating up Muhidin Kapo, a Bosniak civilian from the Rogatica area who is now a prominent attorney, in Pediste on July 7, 1992, acting in collaboration with another member of the Bosnian Serb Army.

He was cleared of the accusation that he and another soldier came to the place where Kapo was captured, robbed him and drove him to the Public Security Station in Sokolac.

According to the courtber, no evidence confirming that Krsmanovic seized a wristwatch and money was presented during the trial.
The court also said that Kapo did not mention those facts in his statements either.

It said however that the defence presented evidence that Kapo’s belongings were confiscated from him at the police station in Sokolac and returned to him after the war.

It also determined that the findings in reports on Kapo’s alleged injuries produced by a medical expert witness and an orthopaedic surgeon were only based on a statement given by the victim.

“In the opinion of the court, such evidence is insufficient for rendering a verdict of conviction. The expert witness was unable to specify when and how the injuries were incurred. The court considers these to be the decisive facts that the prosecution has not proved beyond reasonable doubt,” the verdict said.

Speaking about the head injurie allegedly sustained by Kapo, presiding judge Milorad Krkeljas said the witnesses did not mention the existence of such injuries, while the victim said in his statements that Krsmanovic’s colleague had hit him in the head with his fist.

“The court has not been able to draw a positive conclusion on the basis of the injured party’s statement alone,” Krkeljas said.
The defendant was exempted from paying the trial costs.

The verdict can be appealed at the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska.