Serbia Convicts Yugoslav Soldier of Killing Albanian Civilians

Belgrade Higher Court on Tuesday sentenced Bosko Soldatovic, a former member of Military Police Company of the Yugoslav People's Army's Second Proletarian Guards Mechanised Brigade, to 15 years for killing nine Albanian civilians in Bogdanovci in Croatia, in November 1991, Serbian newspaper Danas reported.

According to the indictment, Soldatovic killed the civilians on November 11, 1991 near the local community centre in Bogdanovci without anyone's order or approval, and without any reason.

The victims included six women and three men.

Soldatovic claimed during the trial that he was not guilty and that he was not at the scene of the crime when it was committed.

But two former members of his brigade testified during the trial that Soldatovic killed the civilians.

Tuesday's verdict was a first-instance ruling and can be appealed.