The Hague, 23 October 2001 (RFE/RL) -- Three Bosnian Croats charged in connection with the massacre of 100 Muslims in the village of Ahmici in 1993 were acquitted today, and two others were given reduced sentences by the UN war crimes tribunal. Appellate judges at the tribunal overturned the convictions of the three, saying their trial had been "critically flawed."
The April 1993 killing of civilians at Ahmici, in the Lasva valley, stands as the worst atrocity committed in the conflict between Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Muslims in the 1992-95 war in Bosnia.
During the trial in 2000, witnesses testified that Bosnian Croat police shot Muslim women and children trying to flee. Many victims, including women and children, were burned alive in their homes during the attack.
The judges ordered the immediate release of Zoran Kupreskic, his brother Mirjan, and their cousin, Vlatko Kupreskic.
Police commander Vladimir Santic, who was found guilty of coordinating the massacre, and Dargo Josipovic were given reduced sentences.
The April 1993 killing of civilians at Ahmici, in the Lasva valley, stands as the worst atrocity committed in the conflict between Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Muslims in the 1992-95 war in Bosnia.
During the trial in 2000, witnesses testified that Bosnian Croat police shot Muslim women and children trying to flee. Many victims, including women and children, were burned alive in their homes during the attack.
The judges ordered the immediate release of Zoran Kupreskic, his brother Mirjan, and their cousin, Vlatko Kupreskic.
Police commander Vladimir Santic, who was found guilty of coordinating the massacre, and Dargo Josipovic were given reduced sentences.