Former Police Officer Describes Execution of Civilians During Zecovi Attack
This post is also available in: Bosnian
Defendants Dusan Milunic, Radomir Stojnic, Radovan Cetic, Dusko Zoric, Zoran Stojnic, Zeljko Grbic, Ilija Zoric, Zoran Milunic, Bosko Grujicic, Ljubisa Cetic, Rade Grujcic, Uros Grujcic, Zdravko Antonic and Rajko Gnjatovic have been charged with committing acts of murder, torture, sexual violence, as well as destructing and confiscating property from the local residents of Zecovi, a village near Prijedor.
Milunic was the commander of the Rasavacka Company of the Sixth Battalion of the 43rd Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army. Stojnic was the commander of the reserve police station in Rasavci. Radovan Cetic was the president of the Serbian Democratic Party and crisis committee in the village of Rasavci. The other defendants were members of the Bosnian Serb military, police and other formations.
A protected witness and former member of the reserve police forces of Rasavci, Z-13, testified at today’s hearing. Z-13 said he received information about a group of armed men in Zecovi on July 23, 1992. He said his commander, Radomir Stojnic, told him to go search houses in Zecovi.
Z-13 said Cetic told him not to harm any captives and to transport them towards a bridge in the area.
Z-13 said he and protected witnesses Z-2 and Z-12 went to the Bacic family home in Zecovi, but no one was there.
“Near the school we saw civilians and people. There were men, women and children,” Z-13 said. He said he thought he saw the village mosque on fire.
Z-13 said he saw a drunk Stevo Radulovic lining up a group of detained men from the village. Z-13 said he spoke to Radulovic, and managed to convince him to free three men. He said when he left the area he heard gunshots, and when he returned he saw dead bodies lying on the ground.
Z-13 said he saw civilians Izet and Sonja Bacic near the village school and a group of police officers nearby, including defendants Radomir and Zoran Stojnic.
He said he then heard gunshots and saw Sonja Bacic lying on the ground.
“I saw Zoran Stojnic holding a rifle pointed at her body, but I didn’t see who shot her,” Z-13 said.
Z-13 said he and protected witnesses Z-2 and Z-12 went to Fikret Bacic’s house and saw a pile of bodies nearby.
After the attack, Z-13 said he heard a truck was supposed to collect bodies. He said he didn’t know if the truck arrived.
The trial continues on January 15.
