Presentation of Evidence in Cvetkovic Trial Reaching End
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The Bosnian state court is expected to make a decision regarding the presentation of evidence in the Aleksandar Cvetkovic trial. The decision would bring an end to the presentation of evidence and would lead to the state prosecution’s closing statement.
Aleksandar Cvetkovic, a former member of the Tenth Commando Squad of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with participating in the execution of approximately 900 men from Srebrenica in Branjevo, in the municipality of Zvornik, in July 1995.
The trial chamber decided that a video recording of testimony previously given by UN military observer Joseph Kingori would not be screened in the courtroom.
In November 2011, Kingori had testified against Franc Kos, Stanko Kojic, Vlastimir Golijan and Zoran Goronja, former members of the Tenth Commando Squad of the Bosnian Serb Army. They were sentenced to a total of 112 years in prison for the mass shooting of Srebrenica residents at the Branjevo military farm.
The Bosnian state prosecution had requested that Kingori’s previous testimony be screened at the Cvetkovic trial.
“I consider it unnecessary to hear the testimony, because I cross-examined the witness,” said defense attorney Petko Pavlovic. Pavlovic had examined Kingori in the Kos case, among others.
Cvetkovic’s other defense attorney, Milos Peric, said if he were to examine Kingori he would ask him whether he knew if military formations armed with heavy weapons had been active in the protected zone of Srebrenica.
“I would ask for his opinion as to whether each location from which fire was opened is considered a legitimate military target during war,” Peric said.
Trial chamber chairman Darko Samardzic said he would watch the testimony and inform the court as whether the presentation of evidence in this case could be considered complete. Pending the trial chamber’s decision, the presentation of the prosecution’s closing statement should begin on April 21.
The Aleksandar Cvetkovic trial began in November 2013.
