Cases in trial or on appeal against verdict

Documents 22.10.2008. Škrobić Marko First instance 22.04.2009. Škrobić Marko Second instance All documents are in PDF format. In order to view them you need Adobe Acrobat reader.

Factual allegations in the indictment:  

As alleged in the Indictment, on 31 July 1992, as a member of the HVO, together with 4 (four) other armed persons, Škrobić expelled a Serb family from their house in the village of Novo Selo, Kotor Varoš Municipality. After separating the family and escorting them in the direction of the village of Ravne, the accused allegedly fired a round into the chest of a member of this family who died instantly.

Counts of the Indictment:

Marko Škrobić is charged with War Crimes Against Civilians pursuant to Article 173(1)(c) (killings, torture, inhumane treatment etc.) of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CC BiH) in conjunction with Article 180(1) of the CC BiH (individual criminal responsibility).

Course of the proceedings:

The Indictment was confirmed on 16 January  2007. At a plea hearing held on 28 January 2008, the Accused pleaded not guilty to all counts of Indictment. 

On 6 February 2008 the Court issued a Decision on termination of custody upon which the Accused was immediatly released from custody. The Court previously set bail as a measure securing the presence of the Accused.

The main trial commenced on 9 May 2008. On 22 October 2008 the Court pronounced the first-instance Verdict finding the Accused Marko Škrobić guilty of the criminal offence of War Crimes against Civilians and sentenced him to 10 (ten) years of imprisonment.

The Panel of the Appellate Division, having held a public session on 22 April 2009, rendered the second instance Verdict. The Panel dismissed as unfounded an appeal filed by the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, while it partially upheld appeals filed by defense counsels for the Accused, and revised the first instance Verdict in the sentencing part, sentencing the Accused Škrobić to nine year imprisonment for the criminal offence of War Crimes against the Civilian Population.