Vojic Testifies In Own Defense, Denies Involvement in Bihac Rape
This post is also available in: Bosnian
Adil Vojic and Bekir Mesic, both former members of the 501st Brigade of the Fifth Corps of the Bosnian Army, have been charged with raping a woman and forcing another person to rape her on the night of May 1 or 2, 1994 in Bihac.
According to the charges, a protected witness known as D1 was raped in her home that night.
Vojic said that on May 1, 1994, he went to Bekir Mesic’s house with other soldiers to celebrate International Labour Day.
Vojic said he had a few drinks with the other soldiers. He said that on their way back to the command center, Ibrahim Hamzic, also known as Baja, told him to wait for him while he entered a house to say hello to his girlfriend.
“Four of us stood near the gate, while Baja knocked on D1’s door. He wanted to go inside. She said she wouldn’t let him in. Then we saw a man jump from inside, and Baja lost it and ran into the house,” Vojic said. He said a neighbour called Boro appeared at the house and shouting started.
Vojic said that he and Bekir Mesic then went into the house to get Hamzic.
“We barely got him out. He went crazy and reached for his bombs. We barely dragged him out and brought him back to the station,” Vojic said. He said D1 stayed in the house with Boro.
Vojic said all five soldiers spent the night in the command center and were arrested by the military police in the morning.
They were charged with raping D1 before the military court in Bihac. Vojic was sentenced to two years in prison for violent conduct.
Muhamed Halilovic also testified on behalf of the defense. He said he saw what happened at D1’s house on May 1, 1994.
He said he heard noises and saw Mesic and Vojic taking Hamzic away from D1’s home.
“Baja was aggressive, and fought them. They went down the street,” Halilovic said Halilovic. He said he saw a person jumping out of a window in D1’s house.
Asked whether he saw Hamzic in D1’s home before, Halilovic said he had, but didn’t know if they were in a relationship.
The trial continues on December 2.
