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Protected Witness “X” stated that the situation in Sijekovac became “tense” in early 1992, and that the conflict broke out in Bosanski Brod municipality on 3 March.

“A few days later, on 5 March, my house was shot at. I fired back and that created tension. On the following day, I managed to move my family to a safe place, and I soon left to Derventa. I know that the attack on my house was carried out by a group led by Nijaz Causevic called Medo, because I recognized his voice,” the witness testified, explaining that Causevic’s group was known as the intervention platoon.

According to witness X, he did not go back to Sijekovac before late October 1992, but in late March he learned from his neighbours that Medo’s group attacked Traktorska street in Sijekovac when many people were killed.

The witness stated that subsequently he learned that his house in Sijekovac was burnt down. He added that he believed that the accused Kovacevic was the member of a intervention platoon, noting that he did not see him in 1992.

The State Prosecution charged Zemir Kovacevic, a former member of the intervention platoon of the First BH Brigade of the Croat Defence Council (HVO) with crimes committed in Sijekovac, near Bosanski Brod.

According to indictment, on 26 March 1992, Kovacevic took part in the attack on Sijekovac, where, together with others, he took 15 Serb adults and four children away from their houses, some of whom were murdered.

Kovacevic is also charged with participation in illegal detention, taking away to forced labour, plunder, and unfounded destruction of property of Serb civilians.

In replying to questions of the defence, witness X denied having armed Sijekovac inhabitants, saying that he only “supported the Movement for Yugoslavia.”

In this trial, the BiH Prosecution examined Nikola Jovicic who stated that in late March 1992 he heard shooting in Sijekovac village, after which he hid in the basement.

“I saw a video on You Tube… There were dead people lying in the courtyard. On that day, I saw two or three vehicles leaving from the mosque in the direction of Traktorska street, only to learn later that Croat Army was in the vehicles,” Jovicic stated.

The trial will continue on 3 April.