Karajic: Trial to start March 13
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Karajic, a former member of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is charged by the State Prosecution with crimes against prisoners of war and civilians from the Bihac area.
Between August 1994 and February 1995, Karajic is accused of participating in the murder and inhumane treatment of captives and civilians during the conflict between the Army of BiH and the Western Bosnia Autonomous Region National Defence (WBARND) in the Bihac region.
Karajic is charged with the murder of one captured member of WBARND in August 1994, the “ungrounded detention of civilians” over suspicions they “supported the Western Bosnia autonomy” and with having tortured and killed them.
The State Prosecution has announced its intention to examine 49 witnesses in the course of the trial. Sixteen of them have been assigned pseudonyms after they asked for witness protection.
“The witnesses, requesting protective measures, can be divided into three groups. One group wants to testify from separate rooms, with the exclusion of the public. Another group of witnesses wants the public to be excluded, while the last group does not want their names published by the media,” explained Prosecutor Behaija Krnjic, adding that they will talk to all witnesses prior to their testimonies and then request protection measures.
The State Prosecution intends to complete its evidence presentation in 18 to 20 days.
During its evidence presentation, Karajic’s Defence intends to examine about 30 witnesses and two court experts, including a psychiatrist.
Karajic’s defence has also requested that an additional Defence attorney be appointed, due to the complexity of the case and the gravity of the crimes charged upon the indictee. The Trial Chamber has approved the appointment of Alaga Bajramovic as an additional Defence attorney.
Fikret Abdic established the Western Bosnia Autonomous Region and its National Defence contrary to the provisions of the BiH Republic Constitution in September 1993. In 2005 Abdic was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in Croatia, where he has citizenship.
