Prosecution Gives Up On Two Witnesses at Bjelica and Tripkovic Trial

Zoran Bjelica and Novica Tripkovic, former members of the Bosnian Serb Army, have been charged with participating in the murder and torture of Bosniak civilians detained in the Miladin Radojevic school building in Kalinovik in August 1992.
 
Marinko Bjelica was originally charged along with Bjelica and Tripkovic, but the case against him was separated due to his poor health.
 
At today’s hearing, prosecutor Cazim Hasanspahic said that he gave up on the examination of a female witness and a protected witness known as S-6, but proposed reading a statement given by S-6 during the investigation phase of the case.
 
The defense teams of Zoran Bjelica and Novica Tripkovic opposed having S-6’s statement read in court. They said S-6 had difficulties with his vision. The trial chamber rejected the reading of the statement, and said they planned to order a psychiatric examination for S-6.
 
Prosecutor Hasanspahic said he gave up on this witness, because would have been S-6’s third hearing.
 
The trial will continue on July 15, when Novica Tripkovic’s defense is expected to present several pieces of material evidence.