Witnesses Describe Rumours of Civilian Murders at Relota Trial
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Josip Relota, a former member of the Croatian Defense Council in Busovaca, has been charged with participating in the murder of three civilians along with two other soldiers on the night of January 26 or 27, 1993. They allegedly killed the civilians inside a house and threw a bomb into the house before leaving the crime scene, the indictment alleges.
Ferida Kuric told the court that she met Zoran Relota, Josip Relota’s brother, in Busovaca after the breakout of conflict between the Croatian Defense Council and Bosnian Army.
“I heard that a member of Relota family killed the brother or brother-in-law of one of our drivers, so I told Zoran Relota that they’d come and they were looking for him because of that. He told me he would be too ashamed to come to Zenica if he’d done something like that. I couldn’t associate such a thing with any of our workers and there were three Relotas working for our company,” Kuric said.
During cross-examination, Kuric said the initial information she received indicated that Zoran Relota was the perpetrator, but said she later heard it was another member of the Relota family.
Zoran Relota testified for the cantonal prosecution at this hearing. He said he returned to work at Zenicatrans in Zenica immediately after the end of the conflict between the Bosnian Army and the Croatian Defense Council.
“All the people greeted each other, but they turned away from me. Mrs. Kuric then warned me that they were looking for me because of some murder. I knew the people who’d been killed. If I’d been present, I would have certainly tried to help,” Zoran Relota said.
Salem Ekmescic said Zoran Relota protected him and his family, and said he didn’t know Josip Relota.
Ivica Vidovic said that in his capacity as a policeman, he went to the house where the civilians had been killed a few days later.
“I peeked into the house and saw bloody walls and upturned furniture, but the bodies were no longer there. I don’t know whether the police conducted any investigation,” Vidovic said.
The trial will continue on June 25.
