Koricanske stijene: Verdict Revoked and Custody Measures Terminated
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The Appellate Chamber rejected the State Prosecution’s appeal concerning acquittal of Milorad Radakovic and confirmed that part of the verdict.
“The Appellate Chamber has terminated custody for Zoran Babic, Milorad Skrbic, Dusan Jankovic and Zeljko Stojnic, which was ordered following the pronouncement of the first instance verdict in order to ensure the
indictee’s presence in courtroom. The Chamber has decided to pronounce prohibiting measures against the indictees,” the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina said.
On December 21, 2010 the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina pronounced the first instance verdict, sentencing both Babic and Skrbic, former members of the Interventions Squad with the Public Safety Station in Prijedor, to 22 years in prison, and Stojnic, former member of that Unit, to 15 years for the killing of more than 150 male civilians at Koricanske stijene on August 21, 1992.
Under the same verdict, Jankovic, former Commander of the Public Safety Station in Prijedor, was pronounced guilty of ordering the murders on Mount Vlasic. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
The Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina pronounced a verdict of release against Radakovic, acquitting him of the charges that he participated in the planning of separation and murder of civilians at Koricanske stijene.
In October this year the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina presented its appeal to this verdict, calling on the Appellate Chamber to sentence Babic, Skrbic and Jankovic to long-term imprisonment and Stojnic to longer imprisonment. It further said that it considered that Radakovic committed the crimes charged upon him.
Presenting their appeals before the Appellate Chamber, the Defence of Babic, Skrbic and Jankovic called on the Court to revoke the first instance verdict, while Radakovic’s Defence said that the first instance verdict should be confirmed.
Jankovic failed to appear at the pronouncement of the first instance verdict and presentation of appeals. A warrant against Jankovic has been issued.
