Markovic: Unclear Stories About Rape

Kazimir Barukcic, former member of the Republika Srpska police, was examined as the last Defence witness at this trial. Barukcic said that Markovic, whom he had seen before, did not seem like a person “inclined to violent behaviour”.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina alleges that indictee Miodrag Markovic, former member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, raped protected witness Z1, who was 16 at the time, in Dragalovci village, Doboj municipality in July 1992.

“I heard about that case. Some stories about the rape were unclear to me, as nobody said that it was a hundred per cent proven that it had happened,” said Barukcic, who was held in detention camps in Doboj from June to August 1992. He was released after  agreeing to become a policeman with the Republika Srpska police.

The witness said that the RS military and civil police checkpoint was located in the vicinity of the injured party’s house in Dragalovci village.

He said the injured party probably met Markovic at the checkpoint when she tried to get in touch with her father and brother, who were held in a detention camp, with Markovic’s help.

“Most people tried to use the policemen who were deployed to the checkpoint to help obtain information about their family members. The injured party and her mother probably met Markovic for the first time at that checkpoint. How else could they have met him?” Barukcic said.

Following the examination of Barukcic, Defence attorney Svetlana Lazic presented eight pieces of material evidence.

The next hearing is due to take place on March 30, 2011, when the Prosecution will present additional material evidence.

A.S.