| Press Release | TRIBUNAL |
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)
VE/CS/PR1528e
Appeals Judgement in the case of Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić
to be rendered on 4 December 2012
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| Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić |
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The Appeals Judgement in the case of Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić, two Bosnian Serbs accused of, among others,murder, extermination, and persecutions committed against the Bosnian Muslims in the Eastern Bosnian town of Višegrad during the 1992-1995 armed conflict, is scheduled to be rendered on Tuesday, 4 December 2012 at 15:00 in Courtroom I.
On 20 July 2009, Trial Chamber III found Milan Lukić guilty of persecutions, murder, extermination, cruel treatment, and inhumane acts in relation to six distinct incidents. He was convicted for the killing of five Muslim civilian men at the Drina River on or about 7 June 1992 and the killing of seven Muslim civilian men at the Varda factory in Višegrad town on or about 10 June 1992. Milan Lukić was also found guilty of the murder of Hajra Korić. He was additionally found guilty of beating Muslim detainees in the Uzamnica detention camp.
In addition, Milan Lukić was found responsible for the murder and extermination of 59 Muslim women, children and elderly men in a house on Pionirska Street in Višegrad. On 14 June 1992, the victims were locked into one room of the house which was then set on fire. Milan Lukić was found to have placed the explosive device into the room, which set the house ablaze. Milan Lukić shot at people trying to escape from the burning house.
The Trial Chamber also found him guilty of the murder and extermination of at least 60 Muslim civilians in a house in the Bikavac settlement of Višegrad on or about 27 June 1992. The Trial Chamber found that Milan Lukić and other armed group forced the civilians inside the house, blocked all exits and threw in several explosive devices and petrol, setting the house on fire. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Sredoje Lukić was found guilty of aiding and abetting the commission of the crimes of persecutions, murder, cruel treatment, and inhumane acts. Specifically, he was found guilty in relation to the Uzamnica camp beatings and the Pionirska street fire, Judge Patrick Robinson dissenting, with regards to the latter charge. He was found not guilty, Judge Pedro David dissenting, of charges pertaining to the Bikavac house fire. He was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment.
The trial began on 9 July 2008 and the Prosecution completed its case-in-chief on 11 November 2008 after calling a total of 46 witnesses. Sredoje Lukić’s Defence case commenced on 1 December 2008 and concluded on 2 December 2008 after calling a total of three witnesses. Milan Lukić’s Defence case commenced on 17 December 2008 and concluded on 21 April 2009 after calling a total of 28 witnesses. The Trial Chamber called a total of four witnesses. Closing arguments were heard on 19 and 20 May 2009.
On 2 November 2009, the Prosecution and the Defence of Sredoje Lukić filed their appeal briefs. On 17 December 2009, the Defence of Milan Lukić filed its appeal brief. The appeals hearing took place on 14 and 15 September 2011.
Since its establishment, the Tribunal has indicted 161 persons for serious violations of humanitarian law committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 2001. Proceedings against 126 have been concluded. Proceedings are currently ongoing for 35 accused.
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The Appeals Judgement will be broadcast live on the Tribunal’s website
The Spokesperson for Registry and Chambers, Magdalena Spalińska, can be reached
on +31 (0)6 5127 1242 or +31(0)70 512 5066 and spalinska [at] un.org
For further information please call the Media Office at +31 (70) 512-8752 or -5343 or -5356.
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
For more information, please contact our Media Office in The Hague
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