Memic et al: Bringing the Friar Back
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Witness Marko Karacic, who was a priest with the Franciscan monastery in Konjic during the course of the war, said that Alispago came to the monastery on April 19, 1993 and said he wanted to speak with him. “He began by saying that nobody would hurt us, because we were fighting for Bosnia. I told him that friar Drago had been taken away. The friar called the monastery at that moment and told us that he was in some house. Zuka said that he should be brought back. He sent man to bring friar Drago back. They carried out his order,” witness Karacic said.
A person known as Bagi took friar Drago away on April 19, 1993. The witness said that, before taking him away he beat him up in the monastery.
The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges the murder of 18 civilians and four members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO committed in Trusina village, Konjic municipality on April 16, 1993 upon Alispago, Mensur Memic, Dzevad Salcin, Senad Hakalovic, Nedzad Hodzic and Nihad Bojadzic.
The indictment alleges that Memic, Salcin and Hodzic, former members of the “Zulfikar” Special Squad, and Hakalovic, former member of the “Neretvica” 45th Mountain Brigade, participated in the attack on Trusina and the murder of civilians and prisoners of war, while Bojadzic, the then Deputy Commander of
“Zulfikar” Squad, commanded the attack.
Indictee Alispago, former Commander of that Squad, is charged with having failed to punish the soldier who participated in the shooting.
Witness Karacic said that he heard about the crime in Trusina but he did not know the details about it.
Kerim Celik, Defence attorney of indictee Salcin, informed the Trial Chamber that a psychiatrist examined his client and determined that he did not feel well.
Trial Chamber Chairwoman Zeljka Marenic said that Salcin would be monitored by a psychiatrist, who would follow his health condition. She said that the Court would then make a decision on whether he would continue following the trial.
The trial is due to continue on September 19, when a State Prosecution witness will be examined.A.J.
