Damjanovic brothers: Alibis Dismissed

Claiming that the innocence of Goran and Zoran Damjanovic was disproved during the evidence process, Prosecutor Philip Alcock has invited the Trial Chamber to pronounce the two indictees guilty – but he has not specified how high the sentence should be.

“Pronouncing them guilty and determining a fair sentence can now prevent repetition of events which happened in Bojnik in 1992 elsewhere,” said Alcock.

Goran and Zoran Damjanovic are charged to have participated, as uniformed and armed members of the former Serbian Republic of BiH forces on 2 June 1992, in beating a group of 20 to 30 Bosniaks detained during an attack on the village of Ahatovici.

Goran Damjanovic is also charged with possession of a large quantity of weapons and explosives, which were found in his house during a search in April 2006.

The Prosecution considers that the guilt of the brothers has been proven through statements from witnesses, some of whom were direct victims of the crime committed in Bojnik. Alcock also believes that there is no possibility of mistaken identity.

“The indictees were well known to their victims before the war. The [witnesses] also recognised them in the courtroom during investigation,” said the Prosecutor.

The Prosecutor has also mentioned that one witness was 18 at the time when the crime was committed and that he knew all three Damjanovic brothers very well. Originally, an investigation was conducted against the third brother Vedran as well, but an indictment has not been filed.

“One witness appeared before the court against his will and only after receiving a court summons. This is due to the fact that he was dissatisfied because the third brother was not being processed as well,” the Prosecutor said, adding that this witness said, during investigation, that all three Damjanovic brothers were in Bojnik.

The Prosecution does not believe that the alibis offered by defence teams for both brothers are  viable. Alcock has added that the alibi for Goran Damjanovic, who claims to have been visiting his father in a hospital in Pale during the time when the crime was committed, could be disregarded due to discrepancies between witnesses’ statements and collected material evidence.

The alibi for Zoran Damjanovic, whose defence attorney claims that he was in the surrounded village of Potkraj during the commitment of the crime in Bojnik, is “not viable” as the prosecution believes that the village was not in such an unfavourable position as the witnesses and the indictee claimed during their testimonies.

Talking about the charges against Goran Damjanovic for possession of weapons, the Prosecution has said that the existing evidences and the indictee’s confession are sufficient for proving his guilt.

“The Prosecution thinks that it has been determined, beyond reasonable doubt, that both of them were in Bojnik, together with other unidentified perpetrators,” said the Prosecutor in his closing remarks. He also added that it had been proved that “the indictees intentionally caused physical and mental pain and suffering to their victims”.

Goran and Zoran Damjanovic’s defence teams will present their closing remarks on 14 June.