Trial against Vladimir Korica and Branko Banjeglav, charged with a war crime against civilians referred to in Article 120, paragraph 1 of the OKZRH.

THE TRIAL AT FIRST INSTANCE

Gospić County Court

Case file No.: K-13/96

Judges' panel: judge Pavao Rukavina, presiding, judge Matilda Krunić, member, lay judges Josip Grivičić, Nikola Galac and Božo Babić, members

Criminal offence: war crime against civilians referred to in Article 120, paragraph 1 of the OKZRH

Defendants: Vladimir Korica and Branko Banjeglav, unavailable

Defence Counsel: Nenad Mamula, lawyer practicing in Karlovac

Victims:

- killed: Kata Nikšić

- wounded: Marija Nikšić and Mato Nikšić

According to the Karlovac County Court’s verdict No. K-13/96-6 of 27 February 1997, the defendants were found guilty as charged that they participated in September 1991 in the attack and occupation of Široka Kula, the village with mostly Croatian ethnicity population and during that attack they firstly destroyed the village and then maltreated its inhabitants-civilians - inflicted injuries by knife to Marija Nikšić and Mato Nikšić and killed Kata Nikšić with shots fired from automatic rifle.

The defendants were sentenced to 12 years in prison each. 

The Verdict can be read in Croatian here.

THE VSRH VERDICT

On 29 May 1997, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia rejected the appeals lodged by defendants Korica and Banjeglav as unfounded and confirmed the verdict rendered by the court of first instance.

 The VSRH Verdict No. I Kž-165/1997-3 of 29 May 1997 can be read in Croatian here.