Bojadzic Defense Continues Closing Statements

On her fifth day of closing statements, Nihad Bojadzic’s defense attorney said there was no evidence that indicated her client commanded an attack on the village of Trusina on April 16, 1993.

Bojadzic is on trial with Mensur Memic, Dzevad Salcin and Nedzad Hodzic, former members of the Zulfikar Squad of the Bosnian Army, as well as Senad Hakalovic, a former member of the Neretvica Brigade.

Defense attorney Edina Residovic said state prosecution witness Rasema Handanovic and two protected witnesses known as A and O weren’t credible. The witnesses had accused Bojadzic, the former deputy commander of the Zulfikar Unit of the Bosnian Army, with ordering the Trusina attack from a nearby hill.

Rasema Handanovic, a former member of the Zulfikar Unit, pleaded guilty to participating in the Trusina attack and was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.

Residovic said several witnesses had confirmed that they didn’t see Bojazdic in the area during the Trusina attack. Residovic said she believed the evidence indicated that Seid Padalovic, the former commander of the Tigers Unit of the Neretvica Brigade, commanded the attack.

Residovic said testimony given by state prosecution witnesses A, O, and Handanovic had failed to prove that Bojadzic ordered the Trusina attack and had demanded that no survivors be left behind.

“They not only failed to confirm this allegation, but their testimonies were contradictory. An objective adjudicator of the facts would not be able to render a decision on the basis of their statements,” Residovic said.

Residovic said A had initially said that Bojadzic ordered “not even an ear” to be left behind in Trusina, while Handanovic said Bojadzic stated “not even a chicken should remain alive.” Apart from the wording, Residovic said their testimonies differ in terms of location and the persons to which these statements were directed.

Residovic also addressed allegations that after the attack her client issued an order to Nedzad Hodzic to shoot several captured members of the Croatian Defense Council – a conversation which allegedly took place via a communication device. Residovic said that based on Handanovic’s testimony, others overheard this conversation. Residovic said no one apart from Handanovic confirmed this.

“Honourable court, some evidence indicates that the shooting started spontaneously,” Residovic said. She said the shooting took place after the murder of a Zulfikar Unit member in Trusina.

Residovic described testimony given by a protected witness known as D, who’d said the shooting began when Handanovic cocked her rifle and one of the lined up captives tried to run away.

Residovic said Bojadzic’s alibi was confirmed during the trial, with credible witnesses and material evidence.

Residovic will continue presenting her closing statement on June 1.