The prison sentence of 20 years is appropriate if Naletilic's leadership and the proportions of crimes committed by his subordinates are taken into account. Also important is lack of regret because Naletilic continues to deny his responsibility, claiming that he was not the actual commander of the Convicts' Battalion, prosecutor Peter Kvemer said at an appeals hearing in The Hague.
Kvemer said that documents and witnesses clearly showed that Naletilic had full command of the battalion.
The appeals hearing in the "Tuta and Stela" case continues on Tuesday, when defence counsel for Vinko Martinovic aka Stela will present their arguments. Martinovic was sentenced in 2003 to 18 years in prison for war crimes against Bosnian Muslims in 1993 and 1994.