SUPREME COURT CONFIRMS, CHANGES SENTENCES FOR 13 SERBS

ZAGREB/VUKOVAR, Dec 8 (Hina) - The Croatian Supreme Court on Wednesday partially or fully confirmed verdicts passed by the Vukovar County Court (court of first instance) for 13 Serbs sentencing them to long prison terms for crimes committed during the Homeland War in the Vukovar County area, the Vukovar court reported on Thursday. The Supreme Court reduced prison sentences for two Serbs convicted of rape and murder, who are in detention in Osijek, from 15 to 14 years and 20 to 15 years in prison respectively. The Supreme Court confirmed 10-year-long prison sentences for two convicts, of whom one is in detention and the other is in Serbia, as well as three prison sentences of 12, 15 and 20 years. The court prolonged prison sentences for two convicts from 15 to 20 years, for one convict from 5 to 10 years, and for another from 7 to 13 years; the sentence of the sole female convict from the group was prolonged from 3.5 to 8 years. Partially accepting appeals by the State Prosecutor, the Supreme Court annulled sentences for six persons and returned their cases to the court of first instance for a re-trial. Persons sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment have the right to appeal with the Supreme Court as the court in third instance, whereas sentences for other convicts are final. (hina) jn rml