Trial of Hajrudin Dedic Begins

The Cantonal Prosecution charges Dedic with having participated in unlawful arrest and torture of civilians during a search of houses in Duzice hamlet, Gornja Breza on June 10, 1992.
 
The indictment alleges that Dedic, who was armed, came to Mico Subotic’s house and beat him in order to find out where he kept his weapons.
 
“Following the arrest of Mico, Janko, Momcilo and Zdravko Subotic and Nikola Novakovic, the indictee participated in their beating. He then took Novakovic back to his house. A gun was found in the house. The indictee ordered the man to put it on his shoulder and escorted him through Breza, shouting that Novakovic was in charge of killing Muslim children. In response to that, local Breza residents spitted on him, insulted him and threw stones at him,” the indictment alleges.
 
The Cantonal Prosecution alleges that Dedic then arrested Novakovic again and beat him up, in collaboration with other unidentified persons, until he lost consciousness.
 
In its introductory statement the Prosecution announced that it would examine injured parties Mico Subotic and Nikola Novakovic, as well as six witnesses and one court expert in medicine.
 
The Defence announced that the indictee had an alibi and that he was not present in Breza when the crimes were committed. It said that it would prove those allegations by examining witnesses and presenting material evidence.
 
The trial is due to continue on November 11.