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Serb Cousins Convicted of Burning 132 People Alive

Torched houses after locking Muslims inside

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 21, 2009 6:32 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Two Serb cousins were convicted yesterday by the UN tribunal in the Hague of burning scores of Bosnian men, women, and children to death during the early 1990s. Milan Lukic was sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of "at least 132 Muslim people," whom he locked inside houses and then set on fire with explosives. Sredoje Lukic received 30 years for helping his cousin with the atrocities.

Milan Lukic, 41, was indicted more than a decade ago on war crimes charges but went on the run. He was arrested in Argentina in 2005, and his cousin surrendered to Bosnian Serb authorities the following month. "These horrific events stand out for the sheer callousness and brutality of herding, trapping, and locking the victims, and for the degree of pain and suffering inflicted on the victims as they were burnt alive," said the presiding judge.

Milan Lukic, center, and Sredoje Lukic, right, await their verdict in the courtroom of the UN Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in the Hague, Netherlands, Monday, July 20, 2009.
Milan Lukic, center, and Sredoje Lukic, right, await their verdict in the courtroom of the UN Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in the Hague, Netherlands, Monday, July 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ed Oudenaarden, Pool)
Milan and Sredoje Lukic were tried for war crimes described by the prosecution as one of the most brutal in the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict.
Milan and Sredoje Lukic were tried for war crimes described by the prosecution as one of the most brutal in the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict.   (AP Photo/Hidajet Delic)
Milan Lukic was sentenced to life in prison for burning 132 Bosnian Muslims alive.
Milan Lukic was sentenced to life in prison for burning 132 Bosnian Muslims alive.   (AP Photo/Ed Oudenaarden, Pool)
Sredoje Lukic, left, received 30 years for abetting crimes against humanity.
Sredoje Lukic, left, received 30 years for abetting crimes against humanity.   (AP Photo/Ed Oudenaarden, Pool)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
kokuaguy
Jul 21, 2009 11:33 AM CDT
Didn't Putin give these guys the Medal of Freedom?
Silverbow7
Jul 21, 2009 7:31 AM CDT
I can't even comprehend the things they did well less decide on a course of action. Death? That doesn't hurt. Lock them up for life on our dime? Maybe hard labor in a chain gang after a good caning? As for a bad childhood, all those children they burned alive had worse. They chose it bad childhood or not. More people have bad childhoods than good ones and they don't feel sorry for themselves and do such things to innocents. This was for power. If I have to vote I'd say make sure they can never have any power of any kind ever again.
Fondue
Jul 21, 2009 4:16 AM CDT
He looks like a chubby Steve Carell.

 
Bosnia • Muslims • war crimes • The Hague • crimes against humanity • Balkans War • Serbs • war crimes tribunal • Bosnians

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