ZAGREB, Aug 29 (Hina) - Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic-Marinovic said on Thursday the non-arrival of the lay judge to the ruling in the case of the murder of Milica and Nikola Damjanic at the Sibenik court undermined the dignity of
the judiciary, and that such instances should be sanctioned.
ZAGREB, Aug 29 (Hina) - Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic-
Marinovic said on Thursday the non-arrival of the lay judge to the
ruling in the case of the murder of Milica and Nikola Damjanic at the
Sibenik court undermined the dignity of the judiciary, and that
such instances should be sanctioned. #L#
The minister told reporters in Zagreb that the president of the
Sibenik court's panel of judges, Jadranka Biga-Milutin, had been
unable to pass sentence and that, in line with the law on criminal
procedure, she ruled that a new lay judge be elected and the main
hearing repeated on Sept. 10-12.
The justice minister announced the State Prosecutor's Office would
probe possible omissions done by Branko Nimac in the performance of
his judicial duties, specifically if he had indeed had to undergo a
medical examination in Zagreb the very day he was supposed to make
the ruling.
Four former members of the Croatian Army are being tried for the
August 1995 murder of the Damjanic couple. The indictment charges
them with war crimes against humanity.
(hina) ha sb