Slavko Stricevic Retrial Completed

The pronouncement of the verdict is scheduled for tomorrow, November 6.

Presenting his closing statement, Jasmin Mesic said the prosecution had proven that the defendant participated in the murders of Emsud Smailovic and Mustafa Cikota, former members of the Territorial Defense.

“It has been undoubtedly determined that he participated in the physical abuse of prisoners of war. Testifying as injured parties, all of the witnesses confirmed the allegations contained in the indictment, as well as the court expert’s findings and opinion,” Mesic said.

At the last hearing, a court expert in neuropsychiatry, Nada Milovanovic, said Stricevic was capable of following the trial.

Instead of presenting his closing statement, defense attorney Jovo Pilipovic said substantial violations of the proceedings were evident in the case. He said a fair trial had not been ensured for his client.

“My client is a sick man, who cannot follow the trial. Trying a sick man is prohibited. His right to life has been violated, because his doctors warned him that he was incapable of following the trial,” Pilipovic said.

In September 2014, the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina repealed a verdict which sentenced Stricevic to ten years in prison for war crimes in Bosanski Petrovac in 1992 and ordered a retrial.

Stricevic was found guilty of having committed the crime as a member of reserve forces of Republika Srpska police.