Witness in Sanski Most Crimes Trial Says His Father Was Murdered by Mile Kokot
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The Bosnian state prosecution has charged Goran Mrdja, Milorad Mrdja, Ranko Mrdja and Mile Kokot with participating in crimes committed against Bosniak victims in the Sanski Most area from 1992 to 1994. The crimes included acts of murder, rape, assault, robbery and other forms of mental and physical abuse.
According to the indictment, all of the defendants were members of the Sixth Sanska Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army.
State prosecution witness Almaz Ceric said he left Banja Luka and went to Fajtovci with his parents in May 1992. He described the situation in Fajtovci as “tense.”
On July 25, 1992, Ceric said he was at home with his mother, father and a neighbour. On that day, Ceric said he saw Mile Kokot and Goran Mrdja approaching the house through a window. Ceric said his father, Tahir, told the others to hide beneath the staircase while he opened the door.
“I saw Mile Kokot pointing a rifle towards my father,” Ceric said. He said he then heard a gunshot and saw his father fall to the floor.
Ceric said he ran out of the house with his mother and neighbour. He said they dragged his father to the other side of the yard and that their neighbours came to help them. Ceric said a neighbour named Dejan proposed that his father be transported by ambulance to Palanka to receive medical aid.
While they were putting him into a vehicle, Ceric said his father told him that Mile Kokot shot him.
Ceric said his uncle drove his father to Prijedor and was informed on the following day that he didn’t survive.
During cross-examination, Ceric said Goran Mrdja wasn’t standing next to Kokot when his father was shot.
The trial will continue on February 22. Two expert witnesses will be examined at the next hearing.
