Martic Trial Postponed Due to Illness

The Zenica Cantonal Court has postponed the Mato Martic trial due to the defendant’s poor health.

Defense attorney Nikica Bodul presented the trial chamber with medical documentation and said that Martic was seriously ill. This is the third time Martic’s trial has been postponed.

The trial chamber accepted a proposal by the Zenica cantonal prosecution to have a court expert assess Martic’s ability to attend the trial at the next hearing.

Martic, a former member of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), is charged with having escorted a group of approximately ten captured members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from a school building in Perkovici towards HVO combat positions in the Zepce area in July 1993. He allegedly forced them to crawl in the mud, beat them, and wounded two of them.

The trial will continue on March 26.