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Jail for Serb video death squad Jail for Serb video death squad
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Serbia's war crimes court has jailed four Serb paramilitaries who were filmed as they shot dead six captured young Bosnian Muslims.Serbia's war crimes court has jailed four Serb paramilitaries who were filmed as they shot dead six captured young Bosnian Muslims.
Judge Gordana Bozilovic Petrovic said the murder was a war crime against a civilian population. The Scorpions unit leader and one of his accomplices were given 20 years each - the others 13 and five years.
A fifth man was cleared of the murder which took place during the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia in July 1995.A fifth man was cleared of the murder which took place during the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia in July 1995.
This was the first trial in Serbia to deal with the massacre of nearly 8,000 Muslim men and boys around Srebrenica.This was the first trial in Serbia to deal with the massacre of nearly 8,000 Muslim men and boys around Srebrenica.
It was also the biggest war crimes trial of Serbs by Serbs to date.It was also the biggest war crimes trial of Serbs by Serbs to date.
Slobodan Medic ordered the three defendants and two others to execute the prisoners, take them away from the site and make it seem as if they had been killed in conflict Judge's ruling Srebrenica massacre timelineSlobodan Medic ordered the three defendants and two others to execute the prisoners, take them away from the site and make it seem as if they had been killed in conflict Judge's ruling Srebrenica massacre timeline
Prosecutors said the five suspects were members of a paramilitary unit called the Scorpions.Prosecutors said the five suspects were members of a paramilitary unit called the Scorpions.
On the video, paramilitaries are heard taunting the youths about their virginity before shooting them in the back as they lay in a ditch.On the video, paramilitaries are heard taunting the youths about their virginity before shooting them in the back as they lay in a ditch.
The tape was played at the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague (ICTY) in June 2005 at the trial of the late Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic.The tape was played at the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague (ICTY) in June 2005 at the trial of the late Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic.
ConfessionConfession
Correspondents say the video shook the popular belief in Serbia that any war crimes their side had committed were done in the heat of battle.Correspondents say the video shook the popular belief in Serbia that any war crimes their side had committed were done in the heat of battle.
SENTENCES Slobodan Medic, 20 yearsBranislav Medic, 20 yearsPera Petrasevic, 13 yearsAleksandar Medic, five yearsAleksandar Vukov, acquitted Serbia cleared of genocideSENTENCES Slobodan Medic, 20 yearsBranislav Medic, 20 yearsPera Petrasevic, 13 yearsAleksandar Medic, five yearsAleksandar Vukov, acquitted Serbia cleared of genocide
The former commander of the Scorpions unit, Slobodan Medic, and his main accomplice, Branislav Medic, were each given 20 years in jail.The former commander of the Scorpions unit, Slobodan Medic, and his main accomplice, Branislav Medic, were each given 20 years in jail.
Pera Petrasevic, the only defendant to have confessed to the crime, was given 13 years. The fourth defendant, Aleksandar Medic, was given five years while a fifth man, Aleksandar Vukov, was acquittedPera Petrasevic, the only defendant to have confessed to the crime, was given 13 years. The fourth defendant, Aleksandar Medic, was given five years while a fifth man, Aleksandar Vukov, was acquitted
"Slobodan Medic ordered the three defendants and two others to execute the prisoners, take them away from the site and make it seem as if they had been killed in conflict," the judge said. "Slobodan Medic ordered the three defendants and two others to execute the prisoners, take them away from the site and make it seem as if they had been killed in conflict," Judge Gordana Bozilovic Petrovic said.
The case was heard at a special war crimes court in Serbia, which was established in 2003 to deal with lesser crimes referred to Belgrade by the ICTY.The case was heard at a special war crimes court in Serbia, which was established in 2003 to deal with lesser crimes referred to Belgrade by the ICTY.