28 May 2012

A mixed panel of judges, presided over by a EULEX judge at the Supreme Court, rejected on Friday, May 25, 2012 the appeal of the defendant H.B. against the second instance judgment.

H.B. was found guilty and convicted for the criminal offence of aggravated murder and unauthorized ownership, control, possession or use of weapons.

The first instance court sentenced H.B. to an aggregate punishment of twenty two (22) years of imprisonment. Upon appeal, the Supreme Court annulled the verdict and sent the case back for retrial. The trial panel found H.B. guilty again and sentenced him to twenty two (22) years of imprisonment. The verdict was amended upon appeal, sentencing the defendant to an aggregate punishment of twenty five (25) years of imprisonment.

In the latest judgement, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal of the defendant as ungrounded and affirmed the second instance judgment of the Supreme Court of Kosovo.

H.B. was charged with the killing two brothers, A.L. and D.L., in the village of Babimoc/Babin Most, Municipality of Obiliq/Obilić. The murder occurred after a dispute over the ownership of a plot of agricultural land.