RIJEKA, March 17 (Hina) - Rijeka County deputy state prosecutor Doris Hrast said in his closing argument at the war crimes trial of the so-called Gospic Group on Monday the claims made in the indictment had been proved and the
defendants were guilty of the crimes they had been charged with.
RIJEKA, March 17 (Hina) - Rijeka County deputy state prosecutor
Doris Hrast said in his closing argument at the war crimes trial of
the so-called Gospic Group on Monday the claims made in the
indictment had been proved and the defendants were guilty of the
crimes they had been charged with. #L#
Material evidence and witness testimonies have proved that the
defendants did commit war crimes against civilians as described in
the indictment, Hrast said.
It has been established beyond doubt that at least 50 civilians were
abducted from Gospic and Karlobag and killed in the autumn of 1991,
and that members of the Croatian Army and the Military Police took
part in it, said Hrast.
He stated that Mirko Norac, who at the time was the commander of the
118th Gospic Brigade, was responsible for that, and that it had been
proved that Tihomir Oreskovic had been at the helm of Military
Police.
It has been proved that Oreskovic, listed first on the indictment,
usurped all authority in Gospic and issued orders for the abduction
and killing of civilians, said the prosecutor.
He added it had transpired from witness testimonies that Norac,
second on the indictment, had personally killed one woman, had
tried to kill one man during an execution at Pazariste, and had
ordered shooting at civilians during that execution.
Ivica Rozic abducted and killed three Serbs from Karlobag and took
part in the abduction and detention of civilians at a barracks in
Perusic, said Hrast.
Stjepan Granic, who in 1991 was the commander of Perusic's 118th
Brigade and of the local barracks, organised the detention of
civilians in said barracks and ordered shooting at them during an
execution at Lipova Glavica, the prosecutor said.
As mitigating circumstances, he allowed for the defendants'
contribution to the Homeland War, the youth of Norac and Rozic when
the crimes were committed, the health condition of Oreskovic and
Grandic and their obligation to provide for underage children, as
well as Grandic's partial confession to the crime.
As for aggravating circumstances, the prosecutor mentioned the
number of killed civilians and the stain the crimes left on the
Homeland War.
Today's hearing at Rijeka's county court resumes with the closing
arguments of the damaged parties and the defence.
Oreskovic, Grandic, Rozic, and Norac are in custody in Rijeka,
while a fifth defendant, Milan Cancic, was acquitted last week.
The trial is chaired by Judge Ika Saric.
(hina) ha sb