Mikulic: Blood on all sides

Giving evidence via video link from the United States, Enver Grabovica said that on 25 July 25, 1993 during the captivity in Dretelj, he was beaten by the accused Drazen Mikulic and another soldier.

“They hit me with fists, feet and a gun. There was no body part where I was not blue. I had a broken nose, and my blood was spilt on all sides,” said Grabovica.

According to his testimony, the beating lasted for more than half an hour, until he hit his head into a pole.

“Then Drazen Mikulic told me to drop my head to the ground. As I dripped blood from the nose, Drazen bent down, opened his mouth and drank my blood. Then he stood up and said I drunk the blood of a Balija,” explained Grabovica, adding that after the beating he could not get up for seven days.

Asked by the defence how he knew that it was Mikulic beating him, Grabovica explained that he had never seen the accused before, but that other captives from Dretelj told him that it was Mikulic.

The Prosecution charges Mikulic, as a member of the Military Police of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), with the inhumane treatment of civilians in Dretelj.

The indictment alleges that Mikulic repeatedly participated in the torture of prisoners in a cruel, cruel and degrading manner.

Emir Djulic, who also testified in favour of the Prosecution via video link from the U.S, was detained in Dretelj in August 1993. He said that during his captivity he was tortured with electricity. At the time of his arrest he was 17 years old.

“Through the wires, which I had to put on my ears, they put electricity. Then I lost consciousness, and blood ran in my mouth, nose and ears,” said Djulic.

The following testimony Djulic noted that he had never learned the name of the person who mistreated him.

“Until today I do not know who did it. I remember that the soldier was young, but I could never recognise him” the witness explained.

The Prosecution has finished presenting its evidence with these two witnesses.

The trial will continue on April 12.D.E.