Local Justice – Bogdanic: Six Years in Prison

According to the verdict pronounced by the District Court in Banja Luka, Bogdanic killed Mujo Kovacevic by shooting him from an automatic gun in Vakufci village, Kotor Varos municipality in September 1993.

Trial Chamber Chairwoman Vesna Stankovic-Cosovic said that the Prosecution had proved that the indictee had committed the crime charged upon him.

“The Court considered, as mitigating circumstances, the facts that Bogdanic has never been sentenced before, he is a father of young children and much time has passed since the crime was carried out. As far as the aggravating circumstances are concerned, we have considered the fact that the indictee killed a good friend of his in order to gain material benefit and due to ethnic animosity,” Cosovic said.

Valentina Stanic, Defence attorney for Bogdanic, told BIRN Justice Report that she was not satisfied with the verdict.

“The Defence has got evidence proving Bogdanic’s innocence. The Court has just sentenced an innocent man. Due to these reasons, we shall file an appeal with the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska,” Stanic said.

G.O.

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