RIJEKA COURT OVERRULES DEFENCE'S OBJECTIONS IN GOSPIC CASE

RIJEKA, April 5 (Hina) - The Rijeka County Court on Thursday overruled objections made by the defence to the effect that the indictments filed against five persons charged with war crimes over civilians in the Gospic area in 1991 were unfounded. The court also turned down a request by the defence to resume with investigations, claiming enough relevant evidence had been collected to issue an indictment. The investigation cannot shed light on every disputed fact and detail of the crimes attributed to the indictees, but only the main ones which provide the basis for an indictment, a court official said, adding everything else remained to be proven or denied in the main hearing. The investigation into the so-called Gospic case was launched in mid-September 2000 and initially included eight persons. Indictments have not been issued against three, while the other five, namely Tihomir Oreskovic, Mirko Norac, Stjepan Grandic, and Ivica Rozic are in custody in Rijeka. The main hearing is expected to begin on May 7, with Judge Ika Saric presiding. (hina) ha