Milan Komad Trial Begins
This post is also available in: Bosnian
Before the testimony began, the prosecution read the indictment, which charges Komad with killing a Bosniak civilian in Kosovo Polje in the municipality of Visegrad at the beginning of June 1992.
Komad allegedly went to Kosovo Polje after most of the Bosniak residents had fled the village. According to the indictment, he noticed Ibrahim Ribac hiding in his yard. Komad yelled at the defendant to stop, and Ribac tried to run away. Komad then allegedly shot and killed Ribac with his rifle. He also allegedly killed a dog that barked at him.
Testifying before the district court of Eastern Sarajevo, prosecution witness Adil Kos said the situation in Visegrad was unstable after the arrival of the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) in the spring of 1992. He said after the Yugoslav National Army’s withdrawal in June 1992, other formations began intruding houses in the area. He described the security situation in Kosovo Polje in the municipality of Visegrad.
“I didn’t sleep in my house, because I didn’t feel safe. I ran away and hid in a field. I was afraid for my life,” Kos said.
Kos was asked what happened to victim Ibrahim Ribac, his neighbour and distant relative. Kos said he knew nothing about his death, but had heard from his neighbours and Ribac’s son that he was killed.
“There were various speculations. Somebody said that [it was] a neighbour, that they were probably from the Dikic house…that the man came out,” said Kos.
During cross-examination Kos said he hadn’t known Milan Komad and that he hadn’t seen or contacted him before. When asked whether the defendant killed Ribac, Kos said he couldn’t speculate.
“Some people said that, but I can’t say anything about it now,” Kos said.
In his introductory statement, prosecutor Tarik Crnkic said he planned to prove the accusations in the indictment by examining seven witnesses and including 14 pieces of material evidence in the case file.
The defense didn’t want to present its introductory statement at this stage.
The trial will continue on March 3.
