Macic Defense Requests Acquittal

Ibro Macic’s defense presented its closing statement today, and asked the court to hand down an acquittal in the case.

Macic has been charged with the murder of four old women in Blace in June 1992, as well as the torture and abuse of detainees in the Musala detention center in Konjic. He has also been charged with participating in the torture and sexual abuse of prisoners in the Musala detention center in Konjic from April to October 1993.

Macic’s defense attorney, Fadil Abaz, said that there was a lack of evidence against his client, as well as contradictory statements by witnesses who had previously testified against Osman Brkan. Brkan had been acquitted, under a second instance verdict, of charges of participating in the Blace murder.

“Salko Macic is the only witness who said Ibro Macic shot at the old women with an automatic weapon. His brother Seho Macic said he heard a burst of gunfire,” Abaz said. He said all the other witnesses had said that Macic had an M48 rifle, which couldn’t have released a burst of gunfire.

Abaz said certain witnesses accused Macic in order to hide their own criminal activity. Abaz said witnesses and defendants had received threats from a person nicknamed Kolumbo, who had led the attack on Blace.

“My client was declared incapable of military service in the former Yugoslavia. During the incriminating period, his reasoning ability was reduced – this was determined by a court expert, who said his illness is permanent,” said Abaz.

Abaz said numerous witnesses had confirmed that Macic came to the Musala detention center in May 1993, and was then deployed to Igman in July. He said this had been confirmed by Edhem Zilic, the manager of the Musala detention center.

“The time span covered by the indictment, as well as allegations that my client committed the crimes described in the indictment, are disputable, considering the fact that the prosecution witnesses didn’t mention his name in their previous statements, but only mentioned the nickname Maca, while some confirmed that it was in fact Miralem Macic who used to come to Musala,” Abaz said.

Abaz said it couldn’t be denied that people were tortured and abused at the Musala detention center, but witnesses had misidentified the perpetrator. As such, Abaz proposed that the trial chamber acquit Macic.

“In the event that the chamber finds that he’s guilty on any counts, we would like to ask the chamber to take into account his health condition, and pronounce a shorter sentence,” Abaz said.

The Bosnian state court will pronounce a verdict against Macic on April 17.