Recognised by his Eyes
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Testifying at the trial for crimes in Dretelj, near Capljina, an additional State Prosecution witness says that Ivan Medic abused her son and that she “recognised him by his eyes”.
Witness Radojka Zuca said that she was taken to Dretelj, near Capljina, in mid-June 1992 and that, upon her arrival, she found out that Ivan Medic had caused injuries to her son, who too was detained in that facility.
“I saw that my son’s head was injured. At that time I did not know about his tongue. I heard about it later on. Also, I heard that Ivan Medic had done that,” the witness said, adding that she had not known Medic prior to her arrival in Dretelj.
When asked by Prosecutor Remzija Smailagic how Medic treated other detainees, Zuza said that he took some women out and raped them and that he took her out once as well.
The Defence of indictee Medic objected to the examination of this witness, saying that she testified about new facts that went beyond the framework of this reply.
When Medic introduced himself to the witness, she said that she “recognises him by his eyes”. When asked by the Trial Chamber what were Medic’s eyes like, the witness said: “He always seemed grim and looked down, in front of him”.
Medic requested the witness to recognise him on photographs, but she said that she did not remember at all.
Medic is on trial, along with Ivan Zelenika, Srecko Herceg, Edib Buljubasic and Marina Grubisic-Fejzic, for crimes in Dretelj. The Prosecution alleges that all of them participated in forcing prisoners to perform hard labour and torture and that several persons died due to consequences of abuse.
According to the charges, Zelenika was a HOS officer, Herceg was Commander of Dretelj, Buljubasic was Deputy Commander, while Medic and Grubisic-Fejzic were guards.
Prosecutor Smailagic proposed ten pieces of additional evidence, saying that she had received them afterwards.
Drazen Zubak, Defence attorney of the second indictee, said that one of those pieces of evidence had already been presented as Prosecution evidence, objecting to the introduction of the remaining pieces of evidence. The Trial Chamber said that it would render a decision concerning the issue at a later stage.
The trial is due to continue on September 16.
