Serb Soldier Urges Acquittal for Bihac Persecution

“The prosecution has not proved that Sasa Curguz was present on the territory of Orasac, Kulen-Vakuf and Cukovi [in the Bihac area]. Their allegations have neither been confirmed by witnesses nor material evidence,” Loga said.

Curguz, former member of the Reconnaissance Squad with the 15th Bihac Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, is charged with committing crimes including murder and torture in the Bihac municipality in the summer of 1992.

But Loga said that the prosecution had not proved he was a member of the Reconnaissance Squad at the time when the crimes were committed. She said the prosecution’s indictment was imprecise and the prosecution witnesses were not credible, pointing out that the injured parties neither possessed medical documentation nor identified the defendant.

She also argued that what happened to the injured parties could not be considered “torture”.

As regards the murder of 11 Bosniak detainees at the Bezdan-Hrgar pit, she said that the prosecution’s protected witness was also untrustworthy.

She said the witness accused Curguz of shooting the detainees in the backs of their necks with a Magnum pistol, while forensic evidence indicated the injuries were caused by an automatic rifle.

“The only possible verdict that can be pronounced against my client is a verdict of acquittal,” Loga insisted.

“However, in case the court finds him guilty, I am asking it to consider the fact that he was 19 in 1992, that he is a father of two minors and has never been convicted before as mitigating circumstances, and pronounce a shorter sentence,” she requested.

The court set the verdict date for March 30.

At another hearing on Wednesday, the state court postponed the trial of Slavko Milovanovic, who is charged with committing crimes in the village of Resagici in Srebrenica, for three months so the defendant can undergo medical examinations.

Presiding judge Darko Samardzic said at the status conference that a court expert had prepared findings on Milovanovic’s health condition on the basis of medical documentation and determined that additional check-ups, which could influence the improvement of his health condition, would last three months.

Milovanovic is charged with participating in an attack on the village of Resagici in the Srebrenica municipality on May 8, 1992 and ordering the burning of houses, which women and children were forced to leave.

Milovanovic was a member of the reservist police force at the Public Security Station in Skelani.