24 September 2012

A mixed panel of three EULEX judges and two local judges, presided over by a EULEX judge at the Supreme Court, rejected the appeals of the defendants B.H. and S.Q. and affirmed the first and second instance judgments. The panel also dismissed the appeal of the Special Prosecutor in its part related to the acquittal of N.C..

The District Court of Prishtine/Pristina found B.H. and S.Q. guilty for killing N.B, U.B. and S.B. and injuring B.B. in an ambush on the road from the Prishtine/Pristina-Skopje highway to the Soponica village. S.B., who was also in the car with the other victims, remained unharmed.

B.H. and S.Q. were convicted of the criminal offences of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder committed in co-perpetration and unauthorized ownership, control, possession or use of weapons. They were sentenced to an aggregate punishment of 33 years of long-term imprisonment each. The other defendant, N.C. was acquitted of the charges of aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder.

The case was prosecuted by EULEX Special Prosecutor from the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo.