After two unsuccessful trials before the Gospic County Court, the Supreme Court had ordered a retrial and referred the case to the Rijeka County Court because there were no judges in Gospic to conduct the trial other than those who had been involved in the two previous trials.
The trial started in the absence of the accused, who have remained beyond reach of the Croatian police and justice authorities over the past ten years.
The indictment alleges that on May 5, 1991 Radoslav Cubrilo, Bogdan Sobat, Milorad Cubrilo, Milorad Zegarac, Petar Hajdukovic, Gojko Mrkailo and Bogdan Cubrilo attacked the predominantly Croatian populated village of Lovinac with mortar fire, looting the village and burning residential and farm buildings.
One resident was killed outright, while six were taken away, and five of them were allegedly murdered. Their bodies were later found near the village.
Today Presiding Judge Srebrenka Santic heard witnesses, including the only survivor of the incident, who said that the accused had let him go to convey their ultimatum to the Croatian police to surrender.
The trial continues on Wednesday.