Soldiers Defended Their Families
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“It was their legitimate right to defend themselves and their families from attackers. One of them opened fire from a house, while the other was in front of a local shop in the village,” said military expert witness Dragomir Keserovic.
As per a request by the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Keserovic presented his findings and opinion about the events in Serdari village at a hearing held last week as part of a denial of evidence previously presented by the Defence of indictee Sead Menzil.
The expert witness explained to the Court that one of the soldiers was on leave in Serdari village, while the other one found himself caught in the village.
According to the charges, 16 Serb civilians were killed in an attack on Serdari village on September 17, 1992.
Fikret Planincic, Rasim Lisancic, Sead Menzil and Mirsad Vatrac, who, as alleged under the indictment, were members of the Territorial Defence in Kotor-Varos, are on trial for having participated in the attack.
Keserovic said that Serdari village was not defended by organised military forces.
“Hence, the place was not included in a defence system, which would include support by mine-throwers and a station for providing ammunition supplies,” the expert witness said.
The trial is due to continue on September 23.
