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Witness Nura Gacanovic said that a man, whose name, as her neighbours told her, was Radovan Malinovic, took her husband Smajil from their house on August 15, 1992. She explained that she was present in the house when her husband was taken away.
“He told him: ‘Smajo, let’s go. I bought some grilled veal and beer at Kobiljaca, so we should treat ourselves to it’. This is that man,” Gacanovic said, pointing to the indictee.
The Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecution charges Malinovic, former member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, with having killed Smajil Gacanovic within the “Zunovnica” military barracks complex on August 15, 1992.
Witness Gacanovic said that she went to the Police Station in Hadzici and looked for her husband, but the Station Commander told her that he had been taken to Kula, while a soldier said: “Look for him when the war is over.”
According to Gacanovic’s testimony, about ten days later she met the soldier, who had taken her husband away, and asked him about her husband. The soldier responded: “Your people do not want an exchange. There is nothing I can do about it”.
Gacanovic was exchanged to Pazaric on November 23, 1992.
“My husband was exchanged 110 days after his death. His body was complete. He was dressed in the clothes, which he wore when he was taken away on August 15.Only his slippers were missing. He still had a wrist watch. He had three wounds, caused by penetration of bullets, on his chest. His son pulled his shirt up in order to see the injuries,” the witness said.
Considering the fact that the Trial Chamber Chairman at Malinovic’s trial has been replaced, the trial began anew prior to the examination of witness Gacanovic with the reading of the indictment and presentation of introductory statements.
The trial of Malinovic is due to continue on May 28.
