Verdict in Savic Trial Expected June 29

The Bosnian state court will hand down a verdict in the Slavko Savic trial on June 29. At today’s hearing of the trial, the state prosecution and the defense presented their closing statements.

The Bosnian state prosecution has charged Slavko Savic, a former member of the Light Infantry Brigade of the Bosnian Serb army, with the rape of a woman in Semizovac in the municipality of Vogosca in 1993.

In his closing statement, prosecutor Vladimir Simovic said the evidence was indisputable and showed that Savic had raped A, the injured party and a protected witness in the trial, in Vogosca.

“Witness A confirmed the counts and said that defendant Savic was armed, came to her house, put her in a car and drove her to a station in Krivoglavci in the municipality of Vogosca, where he sexually abused her,” Simovic said.

Simovic said other prosecution witnesses also said A had told them she had been raped.

Speaking on behalf of A, attorney Nedzla Sehic presented a claim for material compensation to the court.

“Witness A filed a property-legal claim so that the court would oblige the defendant to compensate her for the fear she suffered and the inhumane treatment she was subjected to,” Sehic said.

Nevenka Vidovic, Savic’s defense attorney, said the state prosecution’s evidence was contradictory and had no strength at all.

“It’s not clear why the injured party waited 15 years to report the crime. I find fear a totally unacceptable justification for that. I believe that she wanted to present her testimony in as traumatic and bad a way as possible,” she explained.

Vidovic reminded the trial chamber of Dusan Cadzo’s testimony. Cadzo said the defendant and A had met in a cafe, greeted each other cordially and had a drink together.

Vidovic also described A’s expert examination as unlawful, on the grounds that such examinations could only be conducted on the basis of a court or prosecutorial order.

“I propose that the court acquit the defendant and reject the property-legal claim as unlawful,” Vidovic said.

The Savic trial began in February of this year.