A Bosnian Serb accused of commanding a notorious detention camp where hundreds of Muslims and Croats were killed, tortured and raped was acquitted of genocide today.
Mr Dusko Sikirica, alleged commander of Keraterm camp, had pleaded not guilty to genocide, complicity to commit genocide, crimes against humanity and violating the laws or customs of war. He was the first camp commander in Bosnia to face the Yugoslavia war crimes tribunal on a genocide charge.
After the prosecution ended its case on June 1st, the defence said it would seek acquittal. That triggered today's hearing, at which judges cleared Mr Sikirica (37) of genocide and complicity to commit genocide.
His trial continues on the other charges, with the defence due to begin its case next Wednesday.
The defence submissions are allowed because the prosecution has failed to prove the intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, religious or racial group as such, Judge Patrick Robinson told a special hearing.
It was the second time judges at the Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia had acquitted a defendant of genocide, the most serious war crimes charge. Proving genocide means judges must be convinced the accused acted with the intent to decimate a population group.
Mr Sikirica is on trial together with two other Bosnian Serbs, Mr Damir Dosen and Mr Dragan Kolundzija, who prosecutors say supervised shifts of guards at Keraterm camp.