State Prosecution Witness Describes Zecovi Shooting of 1992

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.

At today’s hearing, a protected witness known as Z1 described the attack on Zecovi by Serb forces on July 23, 1992. He said he saw four bodies near a playground.

“There were three civilians also there. One was bald and in his forties. Zoran Milunic, Stevo Radulovic, Miso Stupar and Dusan Mrsic were standing there with guns. I saw them killing the civilians. They all shot,” Z1 said.

Z1 testified with his face and voice distorted since the prosecution said he received threats “from a person close to Milunic and a sister of one of the defendants.”

Z1, a reserve police officer in 1992, said Radomir Stojnic gave orders during the attack on Zecovi.

“The attack started at six in the morning. Stojnic told us there were no killing or robberies. He said we were looking for guns. He only said we should shoot if we were attacked,” said Z1.

He added that no one shot at them in Zecovi and they did not find guns.

“We heard shooting in the village, houses were burning and we saw killed civilians. Stojnic never told anyone to stop, investigate or do anything else,” Z1 said.

Z1 added that he saw dead bodies.

“In Tatarevici I saw two brothers, Zika and Mehmed. Miso Stupar said I should lead them to the school I met a woman I knew on the way, and I told her to run. Ziko and Mehmed were killed, I don’t know who did it but I heard the shots,” Z1 said. He said he saw Radomir Stojnic, Radovan Cetic and Slavko Stankovic near the school.

When he returned to Ziko’s bar, Z1 said he saw a group of 70 civilians, mostly men. He added that two persons were killed at that location. He said he saw another group of dead bodies later.

The trial will continue on September 4.