Unknown Soldiers Took a Boy Away

Witness Miro Sokolovic said that he was member of a company with the Rogatica Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, just like indictees Dragisa Cacic and Milenko Cacic, adding that third indictee Vojo Motika was not with them.

He told the Court that Serb houses in the Rogatica surroundings were set on fire in June 1992 and that the population left the area after that. His Company members were in trenches in the Palez area, while positions held by Bosniaks were close to them.

According to the witness’ testimony, Commander Milomir Neskovic said that a reconnaissance unit, which was sent by the Command, would pass by them one day. The witness said that, after the unit had passed by, they heard shooting. After that members of that Unit came back.

“They brought a 10 or 12-years old boy from Starcici village. We heard that they took the child to Rogatica and then allegedly released him,” Sokolovic said, adding that indictee Dragisa Cacic was with him in the same trench.

According to the charges, Dragisa Cacic, Milenko Cacic and Vojo Motika, former members of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, killed one person and wounded a child in the vicinity of Starcici village, Rogatica, on August 8, 1992.

Second Defence witness Branislav Vojovic too was among the soldiers, who were situated in trenches in the Palez area. He said that he remembered unknown soldiers escorting a boy.  

“The child walked normally. They were armed. We heard that the child was exchanged,” Vojovic said.

He said that Miro Sokolovic, Drago Cacic, Dragan Cacic and Slavko Milicevic were with him in the trench.

The trial is due to continue on October 21.