Neuropsychiatrist Assesses Mental Health of Injured Parties at Zenica War Crimes Trial

The defendants, Sedjad Djerahovic and Jasmin Saric, have been accused of detaining, torturing and threatening detainees in the Zenica area during the Bosnian war.

Court expert and neuropsychiatrist Emira Ljubovic presented her findings at the cantonal court of Zenica. Her findings were based on statements injured parties and witnesses gave to the prosecution, as well as an autopsy report.

“If it is true that they were detained, tortured and threatened, as they claimed, those things could have caused severe physical and mental pain to the injured parties. Such torture could have psychotic consequences with elements of post-traumatic stress in most average individuals,” Ljubovic said.

The defense attorneys of Sedjad Djerahovic and Jasmin Saric objected to Ljubovic’s findings.

Djerahovic’s defense said it could not accept findings on events from 1992, on the basis of statements given in 2014.

Saric’s defense defense attorney said Ljubovic wasn’t adequately competent to assess the witness statements, and said her findings were prepared contrary to the professional standard.

The trial will continue on May 18.