Neskovic and Ilic: Escorted by police

Witnesses Borivoje Jovanovic, Dragomir Jovanovic and Mirko Micic said they were at a party at Ilic’s house on July 13, 1995.

The following day they all went to the bus station to see off Ilic’s brother who was going away to the army.

Zoran Ilic, witnesses claimed, was with them the whole time and, furthermore, for all that time he was escorted by policemen.

“I know that Zoran was in Serbia and that he was arrested there by the police. That is why a policeman was escorting him, so that he could not flee,” said witness Borivoje Jovanovic.

Zoran Ilic and his codefendant Dragan Neskovic, both former members of the special police of Republika Srpska, are charged with taking part in the capture of Bosniak men on July 13 and 14, 1995, who were subsequently executed at a farm in the village of Kravica.

According to the indictment, Ilic fired from an automatic weapon into the bodies of the already executed prisoners, while Neskovic ordered the killing of two prisoners.

Ilic is also charged with killing a prisoner in the village of Jelah on July 17, 1995.

Witness Mirko Micic said that he came to Bratunac from Belgrade in July 1995 and that he was helping to organise the farewell party for the brother of the defendant Ilic.

“At the party, as well as the day after at the bus station, Zoran Ilic was escorted by the police,” said Micic, explaining that the defendant was a deserter, and not a willing member of the Republika Srpska forces.

The trial is scheduled to resume on March 13. M.B.