Finding out about Murders from the Media

Jure Cavara, former Brigade Commander with the Second Battalion of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, who testified for the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, confirmed that he had a few pieces of information about the murder in the Topalovic family house and that he heard most of them from the media.

“I heard about this even for the first time while watching the Sarajevo Television and the BBC. At that time I was on the other part of the territory, but I remember that the media announced that the murders were committed by Zoran Marinic, known as Svabo, and Zoran Milic, known as Maslanica,” the witness explained.

As he said, he had known and socialised with indictee Milic before the war. He said that he used to see him during the war, adding that he was dressed in HVO military police uniform.

“I used to see him in that uniform, but I do not know whether he was a member of the military police or not,” Cavara said.

Marinic and Milic, former members of HVO, are on trial for having participated in the murder of four Bosniak persons in the Busovaca area in 1993, causing bodily injuries and unlawful and arbitrary destruction of property.

Anto Budimir, former HVO member and Topalovic family neighbour, testified at this hearing as well.
As he explained, he did not see the murders of his neighbours and he did not know who committed them.

“I can only say that rumours I heard in the town said that it was done by Zoran Marinic, known as Svabo. Others said that. I did not say it and I do not know whether it is true,” Budimir said.

The next hearing at which the Prosecution will examine two new witnesses is due to be held on September 5.