Murderer’s Identity Switched

Smiljan Bulajic recalled having been in the vicinity of Ivan Pravdic’s house in August 1993. He said that he heard “wailing” in the house, so he went there to check it out.

“I saw that Ivan had been killed, so they were crying and moaning because of this. Franjo Pravdic and Ivan’s family members were in the house. After that Stipo Pravdic, Franjo’s uncle, ran into the hallway angrily and invited Franjo to come with him in order to kill the Muslims, who had killed Ivan, out of revenge. He called him names and coward. Stipe’s face was masked. He was dressed in uniform and had an automatic gun,” Bulajic said.

According to Bulajic’s testimony, he stayed in the house for a short time. Franjo Pravdic stayed in the house after he had left. The witness said that he heard shooting a short time later.

“I did not pay attention to that, because we could hear shooting every day, considering the fact that the frontlines were very close. Later on my brother told me that Stipo had killed some prisoners. Only after the indictment had been filed, I heard that they said that Franjo had done it. I know he did not do it. The other man did it. Everybody knows that. Stipo and Franjo are of the same age. Their body shape is similar. The only difference between them was the fact that Franjo had longer hair, while Stipo’s head was almost shaved,” the witness said.

The indictment charges Pravdic, former member of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, with having killed two prisoners of war – brothers Edin and Edib Fejzic, on August 5, 1993.

Mirko Tubak testified as Defence witness at this hearing. He said that he was in the late Ivan’s house in August 1993 after having heard screams and cries.

“Smiljan arrived after me. Stipo Pravdic came a bit later. On that day I heard two or three short bursts immediately after Stipo had left agrily. A few days later I met Stipo Pravdic, who told me that he had killed the Muslims in revenge for his nephew,” Tubak said, adding that Stipo Pravdic was killed in the woods a few years ago.

The trial is due to continue on December 3, when indictee Pravdic will testify in his defence. At that same hearing the Prosecution and Defence will present their closing statements.