Problematic, Unreliable and Drunk

Witness A was on duty in 1993 when protected witness B-3 told him that Bosniak civilians had been killed and wounded in Juriceve Bare hamlet.

“I found myself at B-3’s work place. B-1 came and requested the institution with which B-3 worked to protect him. He was afraid for his life because of Zoran Marinic,” witness A said.

This witness told the Court that Marinic was not a member of HVO, adding that, had he been member of HVO, he would have known that, considering the function he performed.

“Marinic was neither member of ‘Nikola Subic Zrinjski’ Brigade nor any other unit operating in the Busovaca area. He was unreliable, often drunk and problematic person. We did not recruit such people for the HVO,” witness A explained.

Zoran Marinic and Zoran Milic, former members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, are on trial for having participated in the murder of four Bosniaks in the Busovaca area in 1993, causing of bodily injuries and unlawful and arbitrary destruction of property.
 
Second State Prosecution witness, who was assigned the pseudonym C, confirmed that a request for arrest of soldiers Zoran Marinic and Zoran Milic contained his signature, but he was not able to remember why or whether they were arrested.

He too said that Marinic was not a member of the HVO.

“There were rumours in Busovaca saying that Marinic did this and that,” C said, responding to a question by judge Stanisa Gluhajic.

The trial is due to continue on August 29.