Cruel Murders in Bratunac School

As the trial for crimes in Bratunac continues, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina reads statements given by deceased witnesses about cruel murders and torture in the “Vuk Karadzic” school building.

In his statement witness Smail Karamujic, who has since died, said that he was taken to the town stadium along with other Bosniaks.

“Some people were called out and taken away from the stadium. They said they were taking them to Savo Babic’s office in the Crisis Committee,” Karamujic said.

He said that, upon arrival to the school building, he saw the bodies of people who had been taken away from the stadium. He said that nine prisoners, including his brother-in-law, suffocated to death. Also, he spoke about torture and screams that came from a hangar in the vicinity of the school building.

“They beat an 80-year old man to death in front of my eyes. They simply smashed his bones, so a pile was all that was left of him,” Prosecutor Predrag Tomic said, reading the statement. He further said that two more men were killed in a similar way.
Karamujic said that his son was beaten up, just like his brother, who stayed in the school building. He has been missing since.

The Prosecution also read statements given by late witnesses Osman Osmanovic from Hranca and Mustafa Begic from Suha. Their statements also describe some of the cruel murders that happened in the school.

Begic’s statement indicates that Begic saw Savo Babic, who was dressed in military uniform, on the day when detainees were taken for an exchange.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Savo Babic, former Commander of military police with the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, in Bratunac, with having ordered, committed and failed to prevent the detention of non-Serb civilians in the “Vuk Karadzic” school building in Bratunac in May 1992.

A statement given by witness S-26 was read at the hearing today as well. The witness was not able to appear in court due to health reasons, which was also determined by a court expert at a hearing held on October 28.
As read in the courtroom, witness S-26 was mobilised by military police in Bratunac in April 1992. Savo Babic was his commander. In his statement, he said that the “military police was subordinate to volunteers” and that he once went to the school gym as per an order by “the chief of the volunteers”.

The witness said that he saw a few “unhappy” and exhausted detainees.

The trial is due to continue tomorrow, November 5.