Bosnian Serb Seeks Acquittal in Prijedor Persecution Trial

“I propose the court render a decision acquitting him of all the counts contained in the indictment,” said Jurisic’s lawyer, Svetozar Davidovic.

Davidovic said that there was not a single piece of evidence that Jurisic, a former member of the Tukovi reserve police forces at the police’s Public Security Station in Prijedor, participated in a widespread and systematic attack by Bosnian Serb Army and police against the non-Serb civilian population in the Prijedor municipality between May and September 1992.

“There is no evidence that he knew about the attack and that his actions constituted a part of the attack,” Davidovic said.

He added that there was also no evidence that Jurisic had any connection with the Bosnian Serb authorities.

“He was a member of the reservist police forces; he was just a driver, his education was low-level,” he said.

“There is no evidence that he participated in any illegal action which pertains to religious or ethnic affiliation… The prosecution did not prove that he acted unlawfully,” he added.

Jurisic also addressed the court, shed tears, and insisted that he was not guilty.

The prosecution has called for the defendant to be convicted on all eight counts in the indictment.

The verdict will be handed down on April 8.