Markovic: Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison

The court found that Markovic was guilty of raping minor Z-1 in Dragalovci village, Doboj municipality, on July 11, 1992, after coming to her house with a gun and taking her away under threat.

“He banged on the door, telling them to open it or else he would kill them. He fired a bullet. When the mother opened the door, he told her to hand her pretty daughter over to him…He dragged her to a hay stack in a meadow, ordered her to strip and raped her,” the first instance verdict says.

It has been determined that Markovic then threatened the injured party, who was 17 years old at the time, by telling her not to tell anyone about what happened or else he would rape her again and kill her family members.

The Chamber determined that the allegations against Markovic, former member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, were proved beyond a reasonable doubt by the detailed and convincing testimonies of the injured party and other witnesses and court experts.

Trial Chamber Chairman Senadin Begtasevic explained that the Chamber particularly assessed the level of the indictee’s responsibility when it made its decision on the sentence.

“The Chamber took into consideration the fact that the indictee is a family man and a father of three children, one of whom is severely sick, and that his financial situation is bad.

“The Chamber is convinced that the pronounced sentence will fulfill the purpose of punishment. It has certainly taken the State Court’s practices into consideration as well,” Begtasevic said.

Markovic, who has been defending himself while at liberty, has been ordered into custody, which may last for a maximum of 15 months, until the pronouncement of a second instance verdict.

The Prosecution and Defence have the right to file an appeal with the Appellate Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.