Witnesses Describe Murder of Civilians at Bunoza, Godinjak and Saric Trial

Bunoza, Godinjak and Saric have been charged with participating in a joint criminal enterprise aimed at killing and detaining Serb civilians in the Trnovo area. The indictment alleges that Bunoza was the commander of Croatian Defense Forces units in the area, Godinjak was the chief of police in Trnovo and Saric was the commander of the Territorial Defense in Trnovo.

State prosecution witness Huso Durmo said about 50 members of the Croatian Defense Forces went to Dejcici in the summer of 1992. He said that their commander Mirko Bunoza, also known as Hakala, asked him to find accommodation and food.
Durmo said they were accommodated in a school building where they stayed for two nights.

According to Durmo, Croatian Defense Forces members found out that Nenad and Mara Vasic were in Dejcici and wanted to kill them, because they were Serbs. Durmo said a police officer named Hamdija Krupalija was opposed to killing them, but he was disarmed soon after.
Durmo said Nenad Vasic was killed first and that a Croatian Defense Forces soldier who killed him asked Bunoza, “What are we going to do with the old woman?” He said Bunoza ordered him to kill her.

Durmo said he heard that the soldier who killed Nenad and Mara Vasic was nicknamed Kobra.

State prosecution witness Dervis Murga also described the murder of Nenad and Mara Vasic. He said he did not personally see the murder, and said he heard it was committed by members of the Croatian Defense Forces.

He said Croatian Defense Forces members used to come to Dejcici. He said Bunoza had a considerable amount of authority, but said he didn’t see him after Nenad and Mara Vasic were shot.

Murga said he heard that Bunoza was asking volunteers from Dejcici to participate in an attack on the nearby village of Ledici one day after the murder of Nenad and Mara Vasic.

He also said he heard that Croatian Defense Forces members murdered Serb civilians in the village of Trebecaj. Responding to questions from the defense, Murga said he had not heard anyone addressing Bunoza as a commander or heard him giving orders.

The trial chamber decided to conduct an expert examination of Ferid Zagorac’s health. Following the examination, the trial chamber will decide whether Zagorac will be invited to testify.

The trial will continue on October 27.