Bosna i Hercegovina Босна и Херцеговина Sud Bosne i Hercegovine Суд Боснe и Херцеговинe Case Number: S1 1 K 003417 10 Krl (X-KR-09/823-1) Date: Pronounced: 25 May 2012 Written Verdict Issued: 22 August 2012 Before the Panel composed of: Judge Mira Smajlović, President Judge Zoran Božić, member Judge Mitja Kozamernik, member CASE OF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA v. DUŠKO JEVIĆ MENDELJEV ĐURIĆ GORAN MARKOVIĆ NEĐO IKONIĆ VERDICT Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ibro Bulić Defense Counsel for the Accused Duško Jević, Attorneys Vera Lazić and Dragan Gotovac Defense Counsel for the Accused Mendeljev Đurić, Attorneys Miodrag Stojanović and Miloš Perić Defense Counsel for the Accused Goran Marković, Attorney Veljko Čivša Defense Counsel for the Accused Neđo Ikonić, Attorneys Nenad Rubež and Dragiša Mihajlović Sud Bosne i Hercegovine, Sarajevo, ul. Kraljice Jelene br. 88 Telefon: 033 707 100, 707 596; Fax: 033 707 225 V E R D I C T ..................................................................................................................................... 6 I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY ......................................................................................................... 16 A. INDICTMENT AND MAIN TRIAL .......................................................................................... 16 1. Closing arguments .............................................................................................................. 17 B. GENERAL CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE OF THE CASE ....................................... 23 1. Indirect evidence ................................................................................................................. 32 II. APPLICATION OF SUBSTANTIVE LAW .............................................................................. 33 A. APPLICABLE LAW ........................................................................................................................ 33 III. SUMMARY OF THE CASES OF THE ICTY, THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE AND THE COURT OF BIH ON THE EXISTENCE OF GENOCIDE IN SREBRENICA........................................................................................................................... 34 A. JOINT CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE ......................................................................................... 35 IV. SUMMARY OF GENOCIDAL PLAN ..................................................................................... 40 A. GENERAL OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................. 40 B. ORGANIZATION OF VRS.............................................................................................................. 41 1. Structure of the Main Staff ................................................................................................. 41 2. Level of Corps and Brigades ............................................................................................. 42 C. FORCES OF MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR (RS MUP) – COMMAND AND CONTROL RELATION WITH VRS ................................................................................................................................. 42 1. Command Structure of Jahorina Training Center .......................................................... 44 D. PREPARATION FOR THE ATTACK ............................................................................................... 59 E. THE ATTACK ON AND THE FALL OF SREBRENICA ........................................................................ 63 1. Character of the attack ....................................................................................................... 66 V. REALIZATION OF GENOCIDAL PLAN ................................................................................ 68 1. Arrival of the Accused in the Srebrenica Safe Area ...................................................... 69 2. Advance toward Potočari ................................................................................................... 71 3. Disarming of the Dutch Battalion members at the entrance to Potočari .................... 72 4. Participation of Jahorina Training Center members in terrain search (the village of Budak) ................................................................................................................................ 73 VI. FORCIBLE TRANSFER OF CIVILIANS ............................................................................... 77 1. General factual findings ..................................................................................................... 77 2 S1 1 K 003417 10 Krl (X-KR-09/823-1) 25.05.2012.g. 2. Conclusion about the forcible character of the removal of civilians from Potočari ... 81 3. Acts of the Accused Duško Jević and Mendeljev Đurić ............................................... 86 4. Events in Potočari ............................................................................................................... 92 VII. FORCIBLE SEPARATION OF ABLE BODIED MEN ....................................................... 97 1. General Factual Findings .................................................................................................. 97 2. The Acts of the Accused in the Separation of Able Bodied Men ................................ 99 VIII. DEPLOYMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL BRIGADE ALONG THE ROAD DURING 12 AND 13 JULY ................................................................................................... 106 1. General Findings ............................................................................................................... 106 2. Acts of the Accused Duško Jević and Mendeljev Đurić in the Deployment of Members of the Unit along the Road on 12 July ....................................................... 106 3. Composition and Structure of the Column of Muslims Moving toward Tuzla ......... 110 B. SURRENDER OF MUSLIMS FROM THE COLUMN AND THEIR DETENTION IN A MEADOW IN SANDIĆI .................................................................................................................................. 116 1. General Ratko Mladić Addressed the Prisoners in Sandići ....................................... 118 IX. THE KRAVICA WAREHOUSE/ HANGAR ......................................................................... 123 A. MASS EXECUTIONS .................................................................................................................. 124 B. ARRIVAL OF THE ACCUSED DUŠKO JEVIĆ AND MENDELJEV ĐURIĆ WITH A PART OF I COMPANY IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR OF THE KRAVICA FC IN THE EVENING HOURS OF 13 JULY ....................................................................................................................................... 130 C. LIQUIDATION OF SEVERAL DOZEN OF PRISONERS DURING 14 JULY ........................................ 139 D. PARTICIPATION OF VOLUNTEERS IN LIQUIDATIONS IN THE KRAVICA FC WAREHOUSE ON 13 JULY .................................................................................................................................. 147 E. “OPPORTUNISTIC” KILLINGS OF PRISONERS ALONG THE ROAD DURING 13 JULY ................... 149 F. REMOVAL AND BURIAL OF THE KILLED MEN FROM THE KRAVICA WAREHOUSE ....................... 156 1. General Factual Findings ................................................................................................ 157 2. Reburial of Bodies ............................................................................................................ 161 3. Forensic Evidence in the Warehouse ............................................................................ 163 X. SEARCH OF THE TERRAIN ON 17/18 JULY 1995.......................................................... 169 2. Individual killings of prisoners during the search ......................................................... 176 XI. LEGAL QUALIFICATION OF THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF GENOCIDE ................ 178 1. Underlying acts of the criminal offense of Genocide ................................................... 179 3 S1 1 K 003417 10 Krl (X-KR-09/823-1) 25.05.2012.g. B. GENOCIDAL INTENT ................................................................................................................. 183 XII. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ACCUSED FOR AIDING IN GENOCIDE ........................ 191 1. Knowledge of the Accused of the genocidal intent of the principal perpetrators .... 193 XIII. CONCLUSION ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ACCUSED DUŠKO JEVIĆ AND MENDELJEV ĐURIĆ ...................................................................................... 207 XIV. DECISION ON SENTENCE................................................................................................ 209 1. The purpose of punishment ............................................................................................ 209 2. Principles of meting out punishment .............................................................................. 210 3. Individualization of punishment ...................................................................................... 212 XV. ACQUITTING PART OF THE VERDICT RELATING TO THE ACCUSED GORAN MARKOVIĆ ............................................................................................................................. 214 1. Participation in the search of the terrain (village of Budak) ....................................... 214 2. Presence in Potočari, participation in the forcible transfer