Djukic: Apparent direction

Berko Zecevic, a ballistic expert, who was cross-examined by the Defence of Novak Djukic, confirmed that the caliber of the grenade, which hit Tuzla on May 25, 1995, was 130 mm, adding that it “can be concluded that it had been fired from a location near Panjik village on mount Ozren”. 

“In this concrete situation, the projectile hit granite, firm, surface, leaving clearly visible incisions, that look like a spear crown, and sideline stripes, which make it possible to determine the direction from which the projectile had come,” Zecevic explained.

The Prosecution charges Novak Djukic, former commander of the Ozren Tactical Group with the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, with having ordered an artillery squad, based on mount Ozren, to shell Tuzla, using M46 cannons, on May 25, 1995. The indictment alleges that a 130mm artillery projectile hit the area of the town, known as Kapija, killing 71 and wounding 240 people. 

Zecevic presented his findings and opinion on April 15, 2008, when Nebojsa Pantic, Defence attorney of Djukic, refused to cross-examine him because “the Prosecution has not introduced the documents, which he used in his analysis”.

Although he said he would invite the court expert again in order to examine him directly, at this hearing Pantic decided not to do it, so he just cross-examined Zecevic.

The court expert explained that, while preparing his findings and opinion, he made “a reconstruction of events”, thus deriving clear conclusions that the caliber of the projectile was 130mm, “it was most probably made in Russia” and it was launched from a distance “larger than 20 km from the direction of mount Ozren”. 

“During the course of my investigation, we visited mount Ozren. We walked through the mentioned zone for a few hours, before finding an artillery position near Panjik village. We spoke to the village residents, who confirmed that an artillery squad had been situated there. I think that this was the probable location,” court expert Zecevic said.

The trial is due to continue on December 16, 2008, when the Defence will examine its first four witnesses.