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“The public will be excluded from hearings for the sake of protection of lives of injured parties and indictees,” Trial Chamber Chairwoman Jasmina Kosovic said after the parties had presented, behind closed doors, their arguments for excluding the public.
The decision was made prior to the examination of the first witness, who requested protection measures.
Judge Kosovic said that the Chamber received two pieces of correspondence, requesting protection measures for this witness.
Prosecutor Miroslav Janjic was not aware of the witness’ request.
“The Prosecution has not been informed that the witness is requesting protection measures. The situation may have changed,” Janjic said.
Marijan Brnjic, Martin Barukcic, as well as Pavo and Ilija Glavas, former members of the 102nd Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, are charged with having raped, beaten, abused, threatened and humiliated Serb women.
The indictment charges them in five counts with having taken victims from various locations to houses and other facilities in the Odzak area in the summer of 1992.
As per a decision by the Trial Chamber, representatives of several NGOs, which offered support to witnesses or were interested in this specific subject, would be able to follow this trial.
