Witnesses in Velagic Trial Say Bugojno Detainees Killed by Civilians
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Muhko and Safet Velagic have been charged with physically and mentally abusing detainees Vinko and Mario Zrno. They allegedly punched them, kicked them, and beat them with stones, picks and other dull objects.
The indictment alleges that Vinko and Mario Zrno fainted from the abuse. Mario allegedly died from his injuries later on.
Marijo Franjic, a former member of the Croatian Defense Council, testified at today’s hearing. He said injured party Mario Zrno was detained with him in Bugojno. He said that one day Zrno was taken with a group of other detainees to another location to perform forced labour.
“When the group returned a few hours later, they described the horrible things they survived and the death of Mario Zrno from mistreatment while they were burying the dead at Vrbanja. Civilians beat him with batons, rods and mattocks. Then they dragged him over grass. His mouth was full of soil. He asked for water. An imam who came to the funeral of the killed Muslims told those people to give him water, but it was too late for him,” Franjic said.
Janko Ljubas, who worked at the parish of St. Anthony in Bugojno in 1993, was the second witness to testify at today’s hearing. Ljubas said a member of Mario Zrno’s family told him he died after having been beaten by civilians at a Muslim graveyard in Crnici.
“Senad Dautovic brought me a list of 24 persons who were supposed to be buried according to Catholic burial rites. Mario Zrno was under number 61. He was buried at the Sultanovici town cemetery,” Ljubas said. Dautovic, the former chief of the public safety station in Bugojno, was sentenced to seven years in prison for crimes in Bugojno.
Asim Balihodzic, a member of the Commission for Identification in 1993, was the last witness to testify at today’s hearing. Responding to questions by cantonal prosecutor Ahmed Mesic, Balihodzic said he didn’t remember the tribulation of detainees Mario and Vinko Zrno. He said he heard about it at the Bosnian state court a few years later.
Four more witnesses will be examined at the next hearing, scheduled for Friday, February 26.
