Killing for Photo Opportunity

Taken in Brčko in May 1992, the images depict the cold-blooded murder of Bosniak civilians by a Serb war criminal, Goran Jelisić. The photograph, which was purchased by Reuters and published worldwide, and won a World Press Photo award a year later, raised many questions: How could a photographer capture a murder so close up? Why did the killer allow himself to be photographed? And what was the photographer's role in the event?

The in-depth investigation details the background of how the photo was taken and brings together participants from around the world - the photographer and his colleague who were present, the killer (now in prison) who was sentenced to 40 years in prison by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the victim's family, Reuters editors, the World Press Photo jury, war reporters, ICTY investigators and witnesses.

The investigative narrative uncovers a web of complicity, propaganda, and journalistic ethics gone awry.

Photo by Bojan Stojanovic (This photo was used as evidence in the ICTY trials and was provided with the kind permission of the Programme of the Mechanism for Informing Communities Affected by Conflict)