Explaining the verdict, the head of the panel of judges, Marijan Janjac, said that the incident on the Korana Bridge occurred at the time of a general and air raid alert, the town was being shelled, with enemy snipers shooting. During the presentation of evidence it was not established that the group of enemy soldiers captured on the Korana Bridge had surrendered unconditionally, because at one point one of them shouted "let's run". Due to this fact, they could not have had the status of prisoners of war under international laws of war, Janjac said.
Announcing that the circumstances of the incident would be described in detail in writing, Judge Janjac said that the defendant had acted in self-defence.
He said that the panel of judges had discussed if Hrastov had to act the way he did, and concluded that "there was nothing else he could do".
Prosecutor Ljubica Fiskus Sumonja said that the explanation of the verdict contained elements that would provide a basis for an appeal, which she would submit once she received the verdict and its explanation in writing.
The Karlovac trial was the third trial of Mihaljo Hrastov. In the previous two trials, Hrastov was acquitted pending appeal, but three years ago the Supreme Court quashed the second acquittal and ordered a retrial.