A Surprise Attack

Denying the Defence’s evidence, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina examines a military court expert who says that Serdari village was outside the combat activities zone, adding that neither Serb forces nor any organised defence existed in the village.

“Had the Serdari village been within the combat zone, no crime scene investigation would have been conducted, because one would expect losses during a combat,” court expert in military issues Dragomir Keserovic explained.

The court expert presented his findings and opinion, made on the basis of documentation he had received about the crime committed in Serdari village on September 17, 1992. The crime is charged upon Fikret Planincic, Rasim Lisancic, Sead Menzil and Mirsad Vatrac, former members of the Territorial Defence in Kotor-Varos. Sixteen civilians were killed during the attack.

Keserovic said that no Serb units were present in the Serdari village region, adding that only civilians and two soldiers, who were on leave, were present in that area.

He explained that the two soldiers offered resistance during the attack, because they tried to protect their families. As he said, they were killed while doing it. According to his testimony, people kept guards in the village, but the local village residents were not recruited by any military units.

“Serdari village was not defended. A surprise attack on the village was conducted,” the court expert said.

When asked by Trial Chamber Chairman Ljubomir Kitic what the goal of the attack was, the court expert said that the goal was to occupy the village, collect material resources and capture as many people as possible in order to take them hostage.

The Defence teams will cross-examine the court expert at the next hearing.

The trial is due to continue on September 17.