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Trial Chamber Chairman Davorin Jukic said that, after having carefully considered all pieces of evidence, the Chamber determined that it was disputable that indictee Brkan participated in the murder of the old women.
The Trial Chamber explained that it could not trust witness Seho Macic, the only witness, who incriminated Brkan for having participated in the murder of four old women in Blace village on June 13, 1992.
Testifying at this trial in September this year, Seho Macic said that Osman Brkan shot in the direction, where the old women were lying. His brother Salko Macic testified in July 2013. He said that he did not see indictee Brkan inside the house, but at the staircase.
“Testifying at the hearing, he said that he was telling the truth and that he felt good about it,” Jukic said, adding that none of the witnesses confirmed the testimony by Seho Macic, who said different things in his statements given on earlier occasions.
According to the verdict, he influenced witnesses as well.
Besides that, the Chamber noticed that there was an intention to conceal the real perpetrators of this crime.
According to Jukic, there was no doubt that crime against unable old ladies, civilians, was committed in Blace village, near Konjic.
Osman Brkan was on trial together with Ibro Macic. According to the charges, they came to Blace village, near Konjic, along with other members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, and killed four old Serb ladies.
Their bodies have still not been found. Jukic said that it was still unclear what their fate was.
The trial began on July 5, 2013. At the beginning of November the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina decided to separate the case against Osman Brkan.
The trial of Ibro Macic continued with presentation of State Prosecution’s evidence referring to the other crimes charged upon him.
The parties have the right to appeal the first instance verdict against Brkan.
