30 May 2013 - ICTY

49436
1934. The Trial Chamber will first address the Defence’s submissions with regard to the
reliability of Goran Stoparić. The Stanišić Defence claims that Stoparić’s testimony was
internally inconsistent and contradicted by the testimony of Witness JF-024. 3933 The
Simatović Defence claims that Goran Stoparić is an untrustworthy witness, who admitted
before a court in Belgrade to having lied in a criminal case against a certain individual, and
claimed that he had been persuaded to do so by the Defence counsel. 3934 The Trial Chamber
notes that Stoparić had confessed to his lie prior to appearing before the Trial Chamber and
confirmed these allegations when testifying in Court, stating that he had lied in the Podujevo
murder case against Saša Cvjetan. 3935 The Trial Chamber considers that the witness’s previous
conduct need not necessarily affect the reliability or credibility of his evidence given in the
present case and in a different context. In relation to the Stanišić Defence submissions, the
Trial Chamber notes some inconsistencies within the witness’s testimony, but does not
consider them significant enough to affect the overall accuracy and the essence of his
evidence in relation to the Skorpions. Furthermore, the Trial Chamber notes that it has already
reviewed some of Stoparić’s evidence in chapters 3.2.6 and 3.7.1, where it considered it
sufficiently credible and consistent to be able to rely on in its findings. In the present case,
Stoparić presented himself as commander of a special reconnaissance unit of the Skorpions
and testified that he was given a Skorpions ID booklet. His evidence in this respect is
contradicted by that of Witness JF-024. The Trial Chamber acknowledges that certain parts of
Stoparić’s evidence may have been exaggerated, including those parts relating to his position
within the Skorpions. The Trial Chamber will remain mindful of these exaggerations.
Nevertheless, in view of the entirety of his evidence, as well as other evidence received, the
Trial Chamber has no doubt that Stoparić was indeed a member of the Skorpions at the
relevant time. The Trial Chamber will treat the inconsistencies in the witness’s testimony, as
well as any assumptions he has made based on the interpretation of the events that he
witnessed or was told about, 3936 with caution. The Trial Chamber will also keep in mind,
when making its findings, that the witness admitted to lying on the stand and will weigh his
evidence against the entirety of the evidence reviewed, including that of Witness JF-024.
3933 Stanišić Defence Final Trial Brief, 17 December 2012, para. 1075; Annexes III-D and III-E.
3934 Simatović Defence Final Trial Brief, 14 December 2012, paras 892-893.
3935 Goran Stoparić, T. 10540-10541.
3936 For example, in relation to salaries received by the Skorpions, he failed to provide any basis for his
conclusion that a reference to the Serbian MUP automatically implied the Serbian DB. See the testimony of the
witness in chapter 6.5.5.
Case No. IT-03-69-T 682
30 May 2013