Bosnian Fighter ‘Abused Wounded Prisoners’ in Zepce

Witness Semir Derlic told Adzic’s trial at the cantonal court in Zenica on Tuesday that the defendant used his gun to threaten people at the school in Zepce which was serving as hospital for injured Bosnian Army troops and Bosniak civilians.

He said that Adzic approached two seriously wounded men, Nermin Purak and Nasko Grabus, who were hooked up to saline drips.

“Nasko broke off his drip after Adzic put the gun on his stomach and asked him where he would shoot him. He could not say anything, he was just moaning,” the witness said.

He said that Adzic fired a shot through the window and then approached Purak, asked him the same question and fired at his right shoulder.

After that, Adzic approached the witness, who was next to a wounded woman and her young child.

“He put the gun on my head and asked whether I wanted him to shoot at me. I did not say anything. He then put the gun on the child. I told him to shoot at me. He replied that he would not, because he beat my brother last night,” Derlic recalled.

Doctor Nadira Suljagic confirmed that Nermin Purak, who was already badly injured, was wounded in the shoulder in 1993.

Adzic is charged with participating in the torture of prisoners of war at the primary school in Zepce in July 1993.

The trial continues on June 10.