SPLIT, Oct 21 (Hina) - Witnesses from Yugoslavia failed appear before the Split County Court on Monday in the trial of the so-called Gospic group. Presiding judge Slavko Lozina said that to date, the court had not received feedback
whether the witnesses had received subpoenas forwarded via diplomatic sources earlier this month and whether they were willing to testify.
SPLIT, Oct 21 (Hina) - Witnesses from Yugoslavia failed appear
before the Split County Court on Monday in the trial of the so-
called Gospic group. Presiding judge Slavko Lozina said that to
date, the court had not received feedback whether the witnesses had
received subpoenas forwarded via diplomatic sources earlier this
month and whether they were willing to testify. #L#
Defence attorneys objected to the County State Prosecution's
further insisting on the testimonies of the Yugoslav witnesses as
well as calling on new witnesses - former Lora prison inmates. The
witnesses should confirm the contents of letters they had forwarded
to the court, according to which they had been abused, as prisoners
of war in Lora in 1992. They should also testify about the abuse of
civilians in the prison, such as Gojko Bulovic. The defendants are
also charged with the murder of Bulovic. A part of the letters
arrived from Bosnia's town of Trebinje, and some from Split and
Zagreb.
According to the defence attorneys, it is obvious that the letters
were written after the indictment had already been issued and after
the witnesses were informed of media articles regarding the issue.
The defence attorneys believe that the testimonies of witnesses
given before a Belgrade court could be read in the Split court only
if the witnesses were unable to appear before the court due to
illness, old age or some other important reason.
They say that the explanations, according to which the Yugoslav
witnesses did not appear in Split due to safety reasons, were
unacceptable.
Michelle Squicimmaro of the prosecution insists on the testimonies
of Djordje Katic, who, according to the indictment, was abused in
Lora in 1992, and Ugljesa Bulovic, the brother of the killed Gojko
Bulovic.
The court was asked to request that witnesses from Yugoslavia
individually voice their opinions about whether they wished to
testify, which enables the application of international law, and
pressure measures cannot be used. The defence objected to this. The
Panel of Judges will subsequently voice its opinion on all
proposals. At the suggestion of the defence attorneys, the Panel of
Judges, defence attorneys and the Prosecution will visit the former
Lora prison premises on Tuesday.
The main hearing of the eight defendants, of whom three are at
large, will resume on Wednesday, when Milosav Katalina, a former
Lora prison inmate, should take the witness stand.
(hina) it sb