This post is also available in: Bosnian
Goran Sovilj and Petar Galic, both former members of the Bosnian Serb Army, have been charged with the murder of a civilian named 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 them drinks, 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.
At today’s hearing, Sovilj said he was drunk and killed Harambasic out of fear. He denied stealing Harambasic’s car.
“My unit was in Sanica for the first time. I joined a group of soldiers who were drinking. Later on we went to Mehmed Harmbasic’s cafe. I’d already had a lot of drinks and requested another one. A waiter said there were no more drinks, so I left the cafe,” Sovilj said.
Sovilj said he then noticed “something that looked like a bunker” next to an unfinished house. He said he was afraid and started walking towards the cafe again. As he was walking back he met another soldier.
“It was Petar Galic. I asked him about the bunker. Memo was leaving the first floor of the house where the cafe was located. I asked him the same question, so all three of us went towards that house. The soldier and Memo were walking in front of me. They began arguing. I noticed they were pushing each other,” Sovilj said.
According to Sovilj, Harambasic, who was bent down, walked past him with a rifle. He said he then shot him out of fear.
“I regret it. It all happened because of the alcohol. My thinking became irrational. Had I not been drunk, it would had ended differently. We went to police immediately and reported the incident. They held us for about an hour, examined, fed us and released us,” Sovilj said.
Also testifying at the trial, defendant Petar Galic confirmed that he explored a bunker with Harambasic and Sovilj.
“When we approached the house, Mehmed grabbed my shoulder and said he didn’t want to enter it. I went upstairs to check it out. As I was coming down the stairs, I heard a gunshot. I saw Mehmed lying on the ground, dead. I asked him what he had done. He said he got scared,” Galic said.
He said they went to a police station and reported the event. He said his cousin came by a short time later and released them.
“This was a burden for me. When I found out that people in Sanica rumoured that I had done it, I looked for Mehmed’s son. As I was afraid for my family, I haven’t said who did it until now,” Galic said.
The defense presented a recording of a conversation between Galic and Haris Harambasic, the victim’s son. During their conversation they agreed to meet and Galic said he didn’t kill his father, but knew who had.
According to Galic, this conversation was recorded by Haris Harambasic.
The verdict will be pronounced on Tuesday, October 27.
