Maric Testifies in Own Defense, Denies Witness Testimony

Testifying in his own defense before the cantonal court in Novi Travnik, Josip Maric said he wasn’t guilty of war crimes in Kiseljak.

Maric, the former chief of police and deputy chief of the Security and Information Service of the Croatian Defense Council in Kiseljak, has been charged with crimes against civilians and prisoners of war in the municipality of Kiseljak in 1993.

Addressing the trial chamber, Maric said most of the prosecution witnesses had falsely accused him with fabricated testimony.

“About 95 percent of my neighbours have returned [home after the war]. I attend each and every funeral, be it a Christian or Islamic one. There’s no one I wouldn’t have a coffee with. I don’t feel guilty at all,” Maric said.

Maric said he met prosecution witness Jusuf Muratovic only once and that prosecution witness Abaz Musanovic’s testimony was a misuse of his official position. He reminded the trial chamber that police officer Ivica Odak detained him during the period covered in the indictment.

During cross-examination prosecutor Sanja Hodzic asked Maric why he failed to comment on testimony given by Ferida Karalic, who had described Maric’s role in deporting Bosniaks from the Kiseljak area. Maric said he only met her once, when a list of Bosniak civilians was created during the war.

When asked what kind of uniform and emblems he wore, Maric said he wore a camouflage uniform, but couldn’t remember the emblems on it.

He said he was on duty at the police station in Kresevo from June 14, 1993 until the end of the conflict between the Croatian Defense Council and the Bosnian Army, and as such wasn’t in Kiseljak during the period covered in the indictment.

The trial will continue on July 3, when closing statements will be presented.