Prosecution Submits Witness Statement to Radisic Defense After Urging of Trial Chamber

Trial chamber chair Jasmina Kosovic said time was lost due to the prosecutor’s omission in failing to provide the statement to the defense earlier. She said they had sent several letters urging the prosecution to find the statement requested by the defense.

“After we addressed the chief prosecutor, you found the statement. We lost time, as you could have done what we asked you to do immediately,” Kosovic said.

Prosecutor Milorad Barasin said he had no objection to the examination of the witness whose statement was requested by the defense. Barasin said he asked for the statement from the competent prosecutor and the statement had been located the day before.

“I’m asking the court to not put pressure on the prosecutor. This isn’t the right thing to do. It puts pressure on the prosecutor to develop the defendant’s defense…I still stick to my stand that I gave all the documents at my disposal to the defense,” Barasin said.

After having reviewed the statement, Pero Radisic’s defense attorney said she wanted the witness to be invited to testify in court. She said his statement contained contradictory allegations.

Radisic, the former commander of a work squad with the Teslicka Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with participating in the physical and mental abuse of Bosniak civilians from 1992 to 1995.

He has been charged with taking several persons to locations where they performed forced labour. At least six individuals got killed and others were wounded while performing labour on the frontline.

The trial will continue on March 18.