A Bosnian Muslim former soldier has become the first woman to be convicted of war crimes after pleading guilty to killing Croat civilians and prisoners during the 1990s war

Rasema Handanovic participated with other members of her unit in the executions of three civilians and three soldiers, according to war crimes court judge Jasmina Kosovic. She was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail. The crimes were committed on April 16, 1993, in the village of Trusina, in southern Bosnia. A total of 18 Croat civilians and four prisoners of war were killed at the time. Handanovic pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against other former members of her unit under a plea bargaining agreement which saw her get a lighter sentence. She was a member of the Zulfikar special unit, which was under the direct control of the Muslim-led Bosnian army headquarters. Six other members of the unit are currently on trial before local courts over their role in the Trusina killings. Handanovic emigrated to the United States after Bosnia's 1992-1995 war and now holds both US and Bosnian passports. The 39-year-old was extradited to Bosnia in December 2011.