Spanovic to Remain in Great Britain

Milan Spanovic, convicted of war crimes in Croatia, will remain in Great Britain, according to a British judiciary decision.

Spanovic was convicted in absentia in 1994 to 20 years in prison for the torture and killing of Croatian civilians and the torching of houses and religious facilities in August 1991. He arrived in Great Britain in 1998 and in 2004 got a resident’s permit. 

Judge Timothy Workman assessed that everything had happened 16 years ago and the memories of witnesses would be changed and would not be reliable after that much time.

It would be difficult to prove the crimes he is accused of, the judge said.

Workman thus decided that Spanovic’s extradition to Croatia would be an unfair and repressive measure.

The Croatian Interior Ministry spokesman said Croatia had 14 days in which to appeal the decision.