The four accused present, Tonci Vrkic, Davor Banic, Ante Gudic and Andjelko Botic, pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The other four defendants, Tomislav Duic, Josip Bikic, Miljenko Bajic and Emilio Bungur, have been at large since October 2004 when, based on a Supreme Court ruling, the police started with the arrests. International warrants for the arrest are issued.
The indictment has not been changed for the retrial, although in its decision to overturn the 2002 acquittal the Supreme Court pointed to the need to amend the original indictment, notably the parts referring to the responsibility of all defendants for the torture and killing of two prisoners.
According to the deputy county prosecutor, Michele Squiccimaro, the indictment will be changed if necessary during the presentation of evidence.
Among the audience in the courtroom at the start of the retrial was also Judge Slavko Lozina, who in 2002, as chairman of the panel of judges, acquitted the accused. Lozina came into the limelight because of his conduct of the entire trial. The Supreme Court overturned that ruling in August 2004, ordering a retrial before a new panel of judges.
The interrogation of witnesses will start on Wednesday.
Fifty-five witnesses are from Croatia, 12 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 14 from Serbia and Montenegro. The latter have been summoned through diplomatic channels and guaranteed security measures. They are expected to be interrogated in the second half of October.