Bojadzic Didnt Command Trusina Attack, Defense Attorney Says
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Twenty-two civilians and captured members of the Croatian Defense Council were killed in a Bosnian Army attack on the village of Trusina on April 16, 1993.
Bojadzic has been charged with ordering the attack on Trusina, and allegedly specified that no survivors should be left alive. Hes been charged with having commanded the attack remotely from a nearby hill.
At todays hearing, Vidovic said a written order would be a key document in proving her clients command responsibility in the Trusina attack.
Vidovic said Zulfikar Alispago, the former commander of the Zulfikar Squad of the Bosnian Army, and Sefer Halilovic, the former head of the Main Command Headquarters of the Bosnian Army, discussed the Trusina attack over the phone. Vidovic specified that this was an intercepted conversation that had already been presented in the trial.
According to Vidovic, Bojadzic, who was Alispagos deputy at the time, was next to him during that conversation. If Bojadzic had had a commanding role in the attack, Vidovic said it would have made sense for Alispago to have told Halilovic to receive information from Bojadzic regarding the attack on Trusina.
Alispago didnt say that, because Bojadzic hadnt commanded or been present during that operation, Vidovic said. She said her client didnt receive any orders to conduct military operations in the Konjic area in 1993.
Vidovic said that according to testimony from former members of the Zulfikar Unit, commander Alispago was strict and punished soldiers for misdeeds. She said Alipsago would have certainly punished Bojadzic if he had issued such an order. Vidovic said it was the obligation of the commander to investigate and punish subordinates who had committed crimes.
Bojadzic is on trial with Mensur Memic, Dzevad Salcin and Nedzad Hodzic, former soldiers of the Zulfikar Squad, and Senad Hakalovic, a former member of the 45th Brigade of the Bosnian Army, for war crimes committed in the village of Trusina.
Vidovic will continue presenting her closing statement on May 11.
