Defense Witness Describes Tomas’s Wounding in Hadzici
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Tomas, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with the physical abuse and inhumane treatment of Bosniak civilians in the village of Breza in the municipality of Hadzici on November 29, 1992.
Defense witness Ilija Stijecic testified at today’s hearing. Stijecic said he went to Tinovo hill, where positions were held by the Bosnian Serb Army, to repair a cannon.
“I’ll never forget those ten or 15 minutes when Tomas was wounded and several soldiers were killed. Those moments…When the grenade hit the ground, the cries started. I was bent down. Maybe that saved me,” Stijecic said. He said Tomas yelled and called for his brother, Dusko.
Stijecic was unable to specify when the defendant was injured. He said he didn’t approach Tomas, because other soldiers carried him away on a stretcher.
Ljubo Kukilo, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army and guard at the Zunovnica military barracks, also testified at today’s hearing. Momir’s brother, Slobodan Tomas, used to work at the Zunovnica military barracks with Kukilo. Kukilo said he once met the defendant on the street, and was introduced to him through his brother.
The defense presented Kukilo with a photo in which he identified Slobodan Tomas.
Kukilo said Slobodan Tomas had been killed prior to Momir Tomas’s injury.
The trial will continue on December 30.
