State Prosecution Witness Describes Rape at Ilija Juric Trial

The indictment alleges that Juric, a former member of the 102nd Brigade of the Croatian Defense Council, raped and sexually abused a Serb woman in a house in Posavska Mahala in the municipality of Odzak on the night of June 4 or 5, 1992.

The Bosnian state prosecution has also charged Juric with intercepting and mistreating two Serb women with other soldiers in July 1992. The women were with their children, walking towards a school building in Odzak, where their husbands were detained.

Ilija Glavas, Pavo Glavas, Martin Barukcic and Marijan Brnjic are accused in another case for war crimes committed in Odzak.

State prosecution witness Milica Djekic, who accused Ilija Juric of raping her, testified again at today’s hearing. She said she was raped in a house in Posavska Mahala by a group of soldiers, and that Pavo Glavas, Ilija Glavas, Marijan Brnjic and Martin Barukcic were among them.

“They ripped me, I was all bloody. It lasted half the night…Pain and suffering. Eventually, they expelled me, I was powerless and I was beaten. Two women helped me get up and I went home,” Djekic said.

Djekic said all the soldiers were wearing camouflage uniforms with Croatian Defence Council insignia, and were armed with guns.

Responding to questions from the trial chamber, Djekic said she couldn’t remember how many times she gave a statement about what she went through.

“I gave my statement to the Croatian Defence Council when they were supposed to take me to the doctor. At that time, I didn’t talk about what happened to me, because I was afraid. I gave my statement to the Association of Women in 1994, they took down the minutes. Then, I told them what happened to me,” Djekic said.

The trial will continue on October 12, when the state prosecution will present its closing arguments.