Shot Through Closed Doors

Witness Ana Brkovic said that she was, along with four other women, brought to the Community center in Poculica in April 1993, where during the night she heard someone asking the guards for keys.

“In the morning we were there when someone came again. He poked the barrel and when he started to shoot I was wounded in left leg. Then he started to shoot again and I was wounded in right leg. There were wounded and three killed,” she said.

Witness Brkovic said that after she got wounded, a doctor who gave medical assistance came to community center, and that they were transferred to hospital in Zenica.

Asked what she saw when the Community center door opened after the shooting, the witness said that “in front there was one man with rifle on his shoulder and curly black hair”.

Jasmin Coloman, a former member of the Reconnaissance Squad of the Bosnian Army’s 7th Muslim Brigade, is charged with going to the local community centre in the village of Poculice, where Croat civilians were imprisoned, on April 24, 1993.
After a guard refused to let him in, he fired several shots through the closed door, killing three Croats and wounding nine other people, the indictment alleges.

Witness Stefica Brkovic also said that in April 1993 she was brought to community center in Poculica where she was wounded.

“Shooting started and there were wounded and killed. I was wounded, also”, she said

At this hearing, the Defense asked for Coloman to be released from custody and ordered prohibiting measures.

Defence lawyer Senad Dupovac said that the prosecution needs to question only one other witness who lives outside of Bosnia, and that there is no longer possibility to influence witnesses.

“We are against this proposition because a key witness hasn’t been questioned and we suggest that this proposition of Defence be denied”, prosecutor Gordana Tadic said.

The Court will make a decision at a later stage.

Trial continues on November 7.