OSIJEK, July 7 (Hina) - Following a retrial, the Osijek County Court on Friday acquitted members of the so-called Sodolovci group on charges of war crimes against the civilian population. In May last year, the court confirmed
long-term prison sentences, pronounced after a trial in absentia in 1995, for Pero Klickovic, Zeljko Keskenovic, Goran Vusurovic, Marinko Stankovic and Vujo Halavanja. The five men were charged with carrying out cannon attacks on Djakovo and surrounding areas in 1991 and 1992 as members of Serb paramilitary units, and killing 10 and wounding about 30 persons as well as causing considerable material damage. Following an appeal by their attorney, the Supreme Court in November last year annulled the verdicts of the court of first instance due to serious breaches of the criminal procedure to the detriment of the indictees and returned the case to the court for a retrial. In line with that decision, the indictees
OSIJEK, July 7 (Hina) - Following a retrial, the Osijek County Court
on Friday acquitted members of the so-called Sodolovci group on
charges of war crimes against the civilian population.
In May last year, the court confirmed long-term prison sentences,
pronounced after a trial in absentia in 1995, for Pero Klickovic,
Zeljko Keskenovic, Goran Vusurovic, Marinko Stankovic and Vujo
Halavanja. The five men were charged with carrying out cannon
attacks on Djakovo and surrounding areas in 1991 and 1992 as members
of Serb paramilitary units, and killing 10 and wounding about 30
persons as well as causing considerable material damage.
Following an appeal by their attorney, the Supreme Court in
November last year annulled the verdicts of the court of first
instance due to serious breaches of the criminal procedure to the
detriment of the indictees and returned the case to the court for a
retrial. In line with that decision, the indictees were released.
Explaining today's ruling, the court said elements which would
confirm charges from the indictment had not been established during
the presentation of evidence.
Attending the announcement of the explanation of the verdict were
only the indictees' wives, who declined to comment on it.
One of the indictees, Goran Vusurovic, failed to attend hearings in
the retrial and the court issued an arrest warrant for him. He did
not attend today's announcement of the verdict either.
Of 19 members of the Sodolovci group, who in 1995 were tried in
absentia for war crimes against civilians, 14 are still out of the
reach of Croatian judicial bodies.
(hina) jn rml