Soldiers Quarrel Before Committing Murders

Protected witness D, a former member of the “Zulfikar” Squad with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, told the Court that Handanovic, Hodzic and soldier Mirso Sandzaklija, who introduced himself as “the leader of a group of commandos from Vakuf”, quarreled before the shooting in the hamlet.
 
The witness said that Handanovic wanted all the captives to be killed, while Hodzic and Sandzaklija said that women and children should not be harmed.
 
When Hodzic shouted “Shooting squad!” Handanovic got her rifle ready, while one of the captives began running away. The witness said that a man named Hamdo Klisura shot at the captive who was running away.
 
“At the same time they began shooting at the captives who were lined against the wall of the house. Zolja, Dzoni and the others participated in this,” the witness testified.
 
The witness told the Court that his comrade Orho told him that he had brought three members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, who had surrendered, to Gaj hamlet during the operation.
 
Hodzic is on trial, along with Mensur Memic, Dzevad Salcin, Nihad Bojadzic and Zulfikar Alispago, all former members of the “Zulfikar” Squad, and Senad Hakalovic, a former member of the “Neretvica” Brigade of ABiH, for the murder of Croats in Trusina.
 
Rasema Handanovic, also known as Zolja, admitted guilt for her participation in the shooting of the captives. After signing a guilt admission agreement, she was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.  
 
Defence attorney Midhat Koco asked the witness whether he saw Nedzad Hodzic, known as Dzoni, shoot. The witness responded by saying: “Unfortunately, he participated in it. I am really sorry”.  
 
When asked why he had failed to mention in his previous statements that Hodzic uttered the words “shooting squad”, the witness explained that no one had asked him about it.
 
State Prosecutor Behaija Krnjic said that the witness gave a different description of the murder of the captive who tried to flee in his statement given during the investigation, adding that he said Hodzic and Handanovic opened fire at him and that Klisura came after that and began shooting.
 
The witness said that the possibility that Hodzic and Handanovic shot him was “one percent”, adding that the captive was running towards Klisura and that he fell down next to him. According to the witness’ testimony, Klisura bragged later on, saying that he “fired a burst of bullets” at the captive.  

Protected witness D said that members of “Zulfikar” Squad were led by Samir ‘Samko’ Semsovic, who was wounded before the shooting and died a short time later.
 
Speaking about indictees Bojadzic and Memic, the witness said that he did not see them in that area at all.
 
The witness, who testified in defence of Hakalovic, Hodzic, Bojadzic and Alispago, said that two members of the State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA, insisted that he confirm that Bojadzic commanded the operation, although he had already given a written statement to other investigators.
 
The witness also said that, one month prior to the attack on Trusina, Alispago “left and became deputy of some other group”. Alispago is charged in his capacity as commander of the Squad with having failed to undertake the necessary actions to punish the perpetrators of this crime.
 
Almir Sahinovic, a court expert, testified in defence of Hakalovic at this hearing. The witness spoke about the distance between certain places and the village of Trusina.
 
The trial is due to continue on May 20.