Closing statements in the case of Gavrilo Milosavljevic: Defense expects acquittal

Closing statements were held today before the Special Department of the Basic Court in Pristina in the case against Gavrilo Milosavljevic. After presenting their final arguments, the defense emphasized that, upon analyzing the evidence, the only just verdict would be an acquittal.

Attorney Dejan Vasic pointed out that, based on the analysis of the evidence, he could reach no other conclusion than that Milosavljevic must be acquitted.

"In the opening part of my closing statement, noting the many cameras in the courtroom, I took the opportunity to also address the public—the very people in whose name the prosecutor claims to be delivering justice and in whose name the court will issue its verdict—to explain how justice is being carried out against a Serb who only wanted to find the remains of his mother, who went missing after the war, and how he is being charged on the basis of a single, completely false, witness statement. My defense today focused solely on exposing the lies of that one witness who allegedly saw him shoot at Albanian prisoners on the sports field of the Dubrava prison. I believe we have completely unmasked this champion of false testimony before the court," said Vasic.

Attorney Nebojsa Vlajic emphasized that they focused on witness statements because that is the only thing the prosecution is trying to use to establish guilt.

"However, the situation is not as presented. When you listen to the prosecutor’s closing argument, it is a very selective interpretation of witness statements—picking and using only the parts that support his case. I believe the court must interpret these statements in their entirety, especially in relation to other testimonies. What is the issue here? It is claimed that there were several hundred people present at the scene, and we have heard from seven eyewitnesses. None of them saw or heard what this one witness claimed to have seen and heard. Therefore, if this is a solitary, unsupported statement—and it absolutely is—the judge must dismiss it. One witness out of seven cannot possess superhuman abilities to see and hear what no one else did," Vlajic stated.