Witness Reaffirms Testimony in Zavidovici Trial

The defense of Ranko and Zeljko Rakic, and Marko Stankovic, questioned Husanovic about his account of watching from a cornfield as the defendants took away his mother, Zuhra. Husanovic had testified in September 2014, as a prosecution witness, that he then heard a gunshot and later found his mother’s body nearby.

The three are charged with murdering Zuhra Husanovic in late August or early September 1992 in in the village of Kucice in Zavidovici municipality.

The defense asked Rasko Husanovic if he was certain that he was hiding in a cornfield, noting that the landowner had said she did not plant corn that year because of constant shooting and dangers. Husanovic replied that he was absolutely sure about where he was hiding.

Husanovic recounted that he was in front of his neighbour Sekula Ilic’s house when he heard his mother’s cries for help. He then ran to the cornfield.

When asked who was with him, Husanovic said: “Sekula was there. I don’t remember if anyone else was with us. I think his father, Ilija, was there as well. He was an old sick man”.

Following the examination, the defense objected to Husanovic’s testimony, saying it was untrue. The defense said medical documents showing that Ilija Ilic was at a hospital in Doboj from the end of July to December 1992, disproved Husanovic’s account.

The trial will continue on February 2.