Veselinovic: Trial to start on July 18

The trial of Rade Veselinovic, who is charged with crimes against humanity in the Hadzici area in 1992, to be conducted before the State Court in Sarajevo, is due to start on July 18.

At the first hearing, the indictment will be read. After that the Prosecution and Defence will present their introductory arguments.

The State Prosecution charges Veselinovic, as former member of the Military Police Squad with the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, with having committed crimes against the non-Serb population, by committing “murder, torture, forced disappearances, detention and causing of great suffering and bodily injuries.”

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced that it would examine 32 witnesses and present 68 pieces of material evidence in order to prove the allegations contained in the indictment. At the status conference, Prosecutor Milorad Barasin announced that “the number of witnesses may be reduced,” depending on the course of the evidence presentation.

“We cannot say how much time we shall need to examine our witnesses. Depending on the course of the trial, we shall invite two to three, or maybe even five, witnesses per hearing. We shall need one day to examine a medical court expert,” Barasin said.

The Defence of indictee Veselinovic announced that it would examine between five and seven witnesses and present a few pieces of material evidence, which will refer to the indictee’s status issues.

“I do not know how much time we shall need to examine our witnesses, as we have still not taken statements from some of them,” Milorad Rasevic, the indictee’s Defence attorney, said.