Prijedor Murders Trial: Bosnian Serb Soldiers Ask For Acquittal
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Photo: Bosnian state court.
In closing arguments at the Bosnian state court on Monday, Boro Milojica’s lawyer said it had been proved that his client was not guilty of crimes against humanity in the Prijedor area in 1992.
Lawyer Ranko Dakic said the testimonies given by key witnesses were illogical and unconvincing.
“The defence considers there was no widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population in Prijedor, but there was a conflict between two warring parties, so we cannot speak of crimes against humanity,” Dakic said.
Milojica and Zelislav Rivic, both former members of the Sixth Company of the Bosnian Serb Army’s Ljubija Battalion, are charged with involvement in the murders of 19 Bosniak, Croat and Roma civilians in June and July 1992.
Rivic’s defence lawyer Sinisa Dakic also argued that the witnesses’ testimonies were unconvincing.
He said that the defence had proved that the two defendants were at a different location at the time when one of the victims was killed.
“I believe that it has been proven that most of the testimonies we heard from prosecution witnesses were illogical. These statements were amended and changed – especially regarding the time and manner of this killing, and the motive for some witnesses was to hide their own criminal responsibility,” Dakic said.
In its closing arguments last month, the prosecution asked for both men to be convicted.
The court will schedule when the verdict will be delivered at a later date.
