Defense Witness Describes Gojkovic as Good Natured and Helpful

Gojkovic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, allegedly raped a woman in the Grbavica neighbourhood with Veselin Vlahovic, nicknamed Batko, in September 1992.

The Bosnian state court sentenced Vlahovic to 42 years in prison for various war crimes in the Grbavica, Vraca and Kovacici neighbourhoods of Sarajevo.

Radenko Radan, a former member of the exchange commission in Grbavica, told the cantonal court of Sarajevo that he met Gojkovic for the first time in Grbavica in May or June 1992, when he was a member of the Interventions Squad of the Second Battalion of the Bosnian Serb Army.

Radan said he used to see Gojkovic in Grbavica often and that he was always accompanied with his girlfriend.

“All normal people avoided Veselin Vlahovic, known as Batko. He was always hiding in Grbavica. I have never seen him in Gojkovic’s company,” Radan said.

Radan described the defendant as a good natured, civilized and helpful. He said he was never seen in the company of dangerous people.

The trial will continue on January 11, when the defendant will testify in his own defense.