Witnesses at Sovilj and Galic Trial Say Defendants Were Arrested for Sanica Murder

Sovilj and Galic, both former members of the Bosnian Serb Army, have been charged with the murder of civilian Mehmed Harambasic from Sanica, near Kljuc, on May 31, 1992.||According to the charges, on May 31, 1992, Sovilj and Galic consumed alcohol in Harambasic’s cafe and forced him to serve drinks to them, not allowing him to close the cafe.||At around 8pm they allegedly forced Harambasic out of the cafe. Sovilj allegedly shot and killed him. The defendants then drove Harambasic’s car out of his garage.||Witness Stojan Kajic, a former member of reserve police forces in Sanica, testified at today’s hearing. Jakic said he knew Harambasic well.||“I remember Mehmed’s wife came crying on that day and told commander Milan Tomic they had killed her husband. The commander went to pick up a doctor. We were waiting for an inspector from Kljuc. They went to the crime scene,” Kajic said.||He said a soldier came to report the defendants. He said he was ordered to start Harambasic’s car.||“I remember two people were arrested – Petar Galic and Goran Sovilj. I didn’t know the details of the investigation, but rumours said the arrested persons claimed to have been attacked and done it in self-defense. I don’t know how long they were held in detention, but I know Milan Tomic ordered an investigation,” Kajic said.||Milanko Banjac, a former police officer from Prijedor, also testified at today’s hearing. He said after he was wounded in September 1992, he heard that Harambasic had been killed.||“Various rumours circulated around the village. They said someone named Pero Galic killed him. Others said a man named Sovilj killed him, while some said a man from Petrovac did it,” Banjac said.||Another witness named Milanko Banjac said Harambasic was a respected and honest man.||“I remember Petar Galic and a man named Sovilj were arrested for having murdered him. Rumour had it that Mico Simatovic came with a rifle to the railway station where they were arrested, and shouted that Pero should be released, because he hadn’t done it. He even wanted to open fire,” Banjac said.||Witness Sreto Anicic said he frequently visited the Harambasic family.||“It was a reputable family. I worked with the public safety service. I heard that guys from the Sanska Brigade had killed him. I wasn’t directly involved in that task, so I do not know the details,” Anicic said.||The trial will continue on October 7.