Novica Tripkovic’s defense attorney was ordered to obtain permission from the Hague tribunal in order to invite a protected witness known as S5 to testify at the trial.
The proceedings against Marinko Bjelica will take place separately from the other defendants accused of committing crimes against civilians in Kalinovik. The trial chamber decided to conduct separate proceedings for Bjelica due to his poor health.
Defense witnesses at the trial of former Bosnian Serb fighter Zoran Bjelica say that he was in Montenegro when alleged crimes he committed in Kalinovik took place.
Branislav Vukovic, a car mechanic from Niksic, says that he met indictee Zoran Bjelica at Slavko Pekovic’s in June 1992, adding that Pekovic owned a yard and grocery store.
The trial of Marinko and Zoran Bjelica, as well as Novica Tripkovic, who are charged with crimes in Kalinovik in 1992, has been postponed for technical reasons, specifically due to the absence of the third indictee.
The first witnesses, testifying in defence of Marinko Bjelica, who is charged with crimes in Kalinovik, confirm before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH, that they saw the indictee at Rogoj at the beginning of August 1992, while he was withdrawing, together with other members of the Army, towards Dobro Polje.
The examination of Defence witnesses at the trial of three indictees, who are charged with crimes in Kalinovik in 1992, is due to begin next week.
At the trial for crimes committed in Kalinovik in 1992 the Prosecution presents a few pieces of material evidence, including documents about exhumation, autopsy and identification of three killed persons.
During the trial for crimes in Kalinovik in 1992 a witness’ statement is read, in which the witness said that he transported bodies of three Muslims, who were detained in a school building.
Testifying at the trial for crimes in Kalinovik, a Prosecution witness says that she saw marks caused by beating on Suad Hasanbegovic during their detention in the school building in Kalinovik in 1992.