Trial for Teslic Crimes Begins February 12

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH, proposed that minutes from taking statements from some suspects be read and included in the case file as the first pieces of evidence at the beginning of the trial. Defence attorney of indictee Kezunovic – Kerim Celik objected to the proposal, saying that “there is no need to hurry into that”.

Judge Vesna Jasenkovic said that the trial would begin with the reading of the indictment and presentation of introductory statements on February 12.

The indictment charges Dragan Marjanovic, Sasa Gavranovic, Vitomir Devic, Zoran Sljuk, Dragomir Kezunovic and Dario Slavuljica with having taken 28 Bosniak and Croat civilians to Mount Borje on the night of June 17/18, 1992. Upon their arrival, they took them out of the trucks, ordered them to lie down, facing the ground, and killed them from firearms.

The indictment alleges that Dragan Marjanovic was Commander of the First Military Police Squad of the Teslicka Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, while the other indictees were members of that Squad and, at the same time, members of the military part of the Military-Police Formation known as “Mice”.

The Defence of indictee Dragan Marjanovic announced that the key witness was in Australia and that his testimony would be conducted via video link.

The six indictees were originally suspected together with seven other persons in a case called “Mice”.