At the end of the trial which started in June last year, Margus was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with the term recognising the time he spent in custody since September 2005. Dilber was sentenced to a prison term of three years, and was released from custody pending a final verdict.
Margus and Dilber, former members of the Croatian army, are charged with having treated civilians contrary to international laws and customs of war during the aggression on Croatia and defence of the eastern Osijek region in late 1991.
Margus was found guilty of having killed Svetozar and Vukasin Bulat and seriously wounded Slaven Bulat, a minor at the time, in Cepin in November 1991.
He was also found guilty of killing Nedeljka and Nikola Vico, Stevan and Dragica Gvozdenovic, and Ljubomir Grandic, whom he unlawfully detained, tortured and shot dead in the area of Cepin in November 1991.
Margus and Dilber were charged with having stopped, in November 1991 outside Osijek, a vehicle that was driven by Savo Pavitovic, of forcing Pavitovic at gunpoint to walk to a field between the Osijek suburbs of Cepin and Ivanovac, where Dilber shot at him on orders from Margus.
As Dilber failed to kill Pavitovic, he was ordered by Margus to shoot again, but could not do it, as he confessed at the trial. During the presentation of evidence, it was established that Margus finished Pavitovic off, and both Margus and Dilber were found guilty of the crime as accomplices.