Bosnian Serb Soldier Awaits Kljuc Killings Verdict

Presenting its closing arguments, the cantonal prosecution in Bihac on Wednesday asked for the maximum sentence for Lavrnic, a former serviceman with the 17th Kljuc Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, while the defence asked for acquittal.

Before the closing arguments however, defence witness Kada Pehadzic testified that she heard about mass killings from a victim’s sister.

She said that she was told that the civilians were killed by a man called Nikola Tomic from the neighbouring village. Tomic testified during the trial and said that sometime after the killing, he talked to Lavrnic, who confirmed that he committed the crime.

Prosecutor Jasmin Mesic said in his closing statement that Tomic’s testimony was one of the keys to the case, along with the testimonies of the women who were in the house in the time of killing.

Defence lawyer Cvjetin Adamovic said however Nikola Tomic’s testimony was not credible because he is “severely mentally ill” and was probably the real perpetrator of the crime.

Adamovic said that Lavrnic was not in Rejzovici but on the battlefield at the time when the crime was committed, and that was confirmed by his army comrades.

In October 2012, Lavrnic was acquitted of the same killings but the supreme court of the Bosnian Federation entity quashed the verdict and ordered a retrial.

The verdict in the retrial has been scheduled for July 7.