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On May 13, 1992, Juric was murdered during a battle between a JNA unit which was based in the military barracks in Zenica, and members of TO units, situated in military barracks, near Radakovo, Zenica municipality.
Mateja Juric is believed to be the first civilian victim of war in Zenica.
“An incident occurred when fire was opened from the military barracks. The other party opened fire in response to that. In that shooting the child was hit while passing by, together with her mother. A complete blockade followed. The transfer of soldiers out of the military barracks was organised in a peaceful manner on May 19, 1992,” said Mirsad Ibrakovic, the then Commander of TO forces in Zenica.
Each year members of the TO, which consisted of the Patriotic League and Croatian Defence Council, HVO, who participated in moving soldiers from the military barracks, as well as members of the municipal Commission for Marking Significant War Dates, visit the location at which the girl was killed and lay flowers in her memory.
The Juric family no longer lives in Zenica.
In 2006 the Cantonal Prosecution in Zenica referred the investigation into the murder of Mateja Juric to the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dz.S.
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