Neuropsychiatrist Presents Findings on Witness at Cacic and Motika Trial
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In September 2014, the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska repealed a verdict which acquitted Dragisa Cacic, Milenko Cacic and Vojo Motika of war crimes against the civilian population in Rogatica in 1992. The verdict was handed down after the district prosecution of Sarajevo had filed an appeal against the first instance verdict.
On March 24, 2014, the district court of Eastern Sarajevo acquitted Dragisa Cacic, Milenko Cacic, and Vojo Motika of charges that they killed Midhat Dzananovic and tortured his 13 year old son Meho Dzananovic in the vicinity of the village of Starcici on August 8, 1992. They acted in collaboration with another unidentified person.
Testifying at today’s hearing, neuropsychiatrist Alma Bravo-Mehmedbasic said witness Meho Dzananovic showed signs of chronic post-traumatic stress (PTSD), but was capable of testifying.
During cross-examination, Bravo-Mehmedbasic said statements made by Dzananovic seemed authentic and that she didn’t register any gaps in his memory.
The defense teams presented the court expert with several statements given by Meho Dzananovic which contained differing allegations with regards to the number of people who approached him during the crime, the identity of the perpetrators, as well as the dates of the crime. They objected to the consistency and authenticity of Dzananovic’s statements.
Responding to the defense, Bravo-Mehmedbasic confirmed her findings. She said certain questions should be posed to the injured party and that “we cannot fully recall certain details from 1992.”
She said she performed a series of tests which indicated that in general Dzananovic was not inclined to making things up and that his testimony sounded authentic.
The defense said it would request another expert examination of Dzananovic.
During this hearing, the prosecution filed a revised indictment, but did not specify what had been changed.
The trial will continue on November 18.
