DNA Analysis Links Six Graves

Testifying at the trial for genocide in Srebrenica, Rifet Kesetovic, court medicine expert, says that, on the basis of DNA analysis of victims’ remains, he determined a link between six graves in the Zvornik area.

Kesetovic said that a primary grave found on a dam, near Petkovci village, was linked to five secondary graves discovered in Liplje village.

“DNA analysis tells us where parts of bodies of each identified person were found. DNA points to the link between the graves,” the court expert said.
As he said, on the basis of DNA analysis, it was undoubtedly determined that all of the secondary graves were linked to the primary one. 

Kesetovic presented these conclusions at the trial of Ostoja Stanisic and Marko Milosevic who are charged with the murder of about 1,000 Srebrenica residents on the dam, near Petkovci, in mid-July 1995.

According to the charges, Stanisic was Commander of the Sixth Battalion with the Zvornik Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, while Milosevic was his Deputy. The indictment alleges that the Battalion Command was situated in Petkovci.

The court expert began presenting his findings and opinion at the last hearing held on December 10, when he said that the remains of 815 victims were found in graves in Petkovci and Liplje villages. According to his testimony, 803 persons have been identified, but this is not official data. As he specified, officially, 732 victims have been identified. 

Kesetovic agreed with the Defence that 105, out of the total official number of identified victims, can be directly linked to the primary grave, explaining that the fewest victims were found in that grave. 

The trial is due to continue on December 24.