Defense Witnesses Say Brnjic Was in Germany During Alleged Crimes

Brnjic is on trial along with Martin Barukcic, Pavo Glavas and Ilija Glavas for the multiple rape of Serb women from June to August 1992. The indictment alleges that they were members of the 102nd Brigade of the Croatian Defense Council at the time.

Ivo Brnjic said he helped his brother travel from Zagreb to a town near Munich on May 10, 1992. He said his parents, wife, and children had already relocated there.

“Marijan stayed there with his wife and kids,” said Brnjic, who has been living in Austria for the past 25 years.

Ivo Brnjic said he visited Marijan Brnjic 40 days later and they communicated over the phone until his next visit in July 1992. He told the court that his brother stayed in that town for approximately six years.

In response to questions by prosecutor Mirsolav Janjic, Brnjic said he carried a Yugoslav passport at the time, but didn’t know which of his border crossings were documented in it. He said he helped transport many people who didn’t have passports.

The second witness for the defense, Josip Maric, said he used to see Marijan Brnjic in Germany in June 1992. Maric, who lives in Switzerland, said he was involved in collecting aid for Odzak and said he saw Brnjic in June 1992, when he was transporting aid supplies via Germany.

“He gave us two or three parcels, I am not sure how many. He gave us some money too,” Maric said.

Defense witness Ivo Bajusic also said he saw Brnjic in a German town at the border between Germany and Switzerland in June 1992. Bajusic, who lived in Switzerland at the time, said a party was held in that town on the first Sunday in June 1992, just like every other year.

“Marijan, his wife and kids were there. We were sitting at the same table,” Bajusic said. He said they communicated over the phone over the following months.

The fourth witness for the defense, Mato Ilicevic, said he first met Brnjic in Germany in late May 1992. He also recalled them meeting on June 15, 1992, when they slaughtered pigs together. He said he had photographs of them together but hadn’t brought them with him.

When asked when he arrived to Germany, Ilicevic first said May 15 and then May 20, and said he couldn’t remember the exact date. The prosecutor remarked that Ilicevic didn’t remember the dates referring to his past, but he remembered those involving Brnjic.

The trial will continue on June 2.