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Memic et al: Trial for Trusina Crimes Begins

Memić i ostali

08 September 2010  At the beginning of the trial of six indictees charged with crimes against Croats in Trusina, Konjic municipality, the State Prosecution announced it would examine 117 witnesses.

The trial of former members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina charged with the murder of 18 civilians and four members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, in Trusina village on April 16, 1993, began with the reading of the indictment before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"On that fatal morning, soldiers came, bringing hell to the village. Croat civilians were killed in front of their houses, along with HVO soldiers who had surrendered after having received threats that their families would be killed," Prosecutor Dragan Corlija said, presenting his introductory arguments.

The State Prosecution has charged Mensur Memic, Dzevad Salcin, Nedzad Hodzic, Nihad Bojadzic, Senad Hakalovic and Zulfikar Alispago with participation in the crime.

The indictment alleges that Memic, Salcin, Hodzic, Bojadzic and Alispago were members of the "Zulfikar" Special Purposes Squad with the Main Command Headquarters of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, while Hakalovic was a member of the "Neretvica" 45th Mountain Brigade of the ABiH at the time.

The Prosecution alleges that Alispago, Commander of the "Zulfikar" Squad, is responsible for having failed to punish his subordinates who participated in the murder of civilians and HVO members. Bojadzic, Deputy Commander of the same Squad, is charged with having commanded the attack on the village.

"Members of the 'Zulfikar' Squad and the 45th Mountain Brigade, as well as victims' families and Bosniak and Croat village residents, will testify about the events that took place in the village," Corlija said.

At the beginning of the trial the Defence for indictee Alispago presented its introductory arguments, while the other Defence teams said the Prosecution had not granted them access to certain evidence. Prosecutor Corlija denied the Defence's allegations.

"Evidence is being hidden from the Defence in this case. Today the Prosecutor announced he would examine 117 witnesses and the indictment proposed 107 witnesses, which confirms our thesis," Kadrija Kolic, Hakalovic's Defence attorney, said.

As evidenced in the introductory arguments, the key postulates of Alispago's defence will be based on proving that the indictee was not in Trusina at the time and that he was not the Commander of the "Zulfikar" Squad in mid March 1993.

"We shall use the benefits of the verdict against Stupar, because the circumstances coincide in factual and legal terms," Asim Crnalic, Defence attorney for Alispago, said.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina previously pronounced a second instance verdict against Milos Stupar, acquitting him of charges of genocide and determining he was formally not a commander of the Special Police Squad from Sekovici at the time of the crime because no written decision on his appointment existed.

"I sympathize with all the people who lost their family members in Trusina, but I was not able to prevent it," Alispago said, beginning the presentation of his introductory arguments. He said the Prosecution "is concealing the responsibility of a competent body", thus acting to his detriment.

His presentation was interrupted after the Trial Chamber warned him several times that he could not give a speech.

Indictee Hodzic refused to appear in the courtroom after a break, claiming he was not feeling well. Court experts previously examined his state of health and determined he was capable of attending the trial.

The examination of the first Prosecution witness is due to take place on September 20.

M.T.