Following Retrial, Dedic Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

The retrial was held following the repeal of the first instance verdict from October 2014, which found Dedic, a former Breza police officer, guilty of searching houses in the hamlet of Duzice and unlawfully arresting Serb civilians on June 10, 1992. He was also found guilty of participating in the assault of arrested civilians at a police station. Two civilians died from their injuries, while three others received severe bodily injuries.

The Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina repealed the first instance verdict.

At today’s hearing, trial chamber chair Enes Malicbegovic said the chamber wasn’t in a dilemma with regards to the verdict even after the retrial.

“Even if we exclude the happenings related to the search and abductions, what remains is a war crime, as the chamber determined with the first instance verdict,” Malicbegovic said.

Prior to the announcement of the verdict, the trial chamber reexamined Mico Subotic regarding the search and arrest of civilians in Duzice.

Subotic said the defendant and another person had beaten him and his father in front of their house before taking him to the police station.

The parties have the right to file an appeal against the verdict with the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.