Bojadzic Defense Continues Closing Statement

Presenting her closing statement in defense of Nihad Bojadzic, defense attorney Edina Residovic said certain witness testimony against her client wasn’t trustworthy.

Nihad Bojadzic, Nedzad Hodzic Mensur Memic, and Dzevad Salcin, former members of the Zulfikar Unit, and Senad Hakalovic, a former member of the Neretvica Brigade of the Bosnian Army, have been charged with war crimes in Trusina.

In her closing statement, Residovic told the trial chamber that a number of witnesses who testified against her client offered unreliable testimony – she said their motive was to avoid responsibility for the murder of Croats in Trusina on April 16, 1993.

Most of Residovic’s closing statement focused on testimony given by former Zulfikar Unit soldier Rasema Handanovic, who was sentenced to five and a half years in prison after having pleaded guilty to the execution of six captured members of the Croatian Defense Council.

Residovic said the evidence indicated that Handanovic committed other murders as well.

“She bought freedom for countless acts she committed,” Residovic said.

Residovic said evidence indicated that Handanovic had mistreated the Croat population and had proposed that women and children be doused with gas and set on fire.

Residovic addressed allegations made by Handanovic, who’d claimed that Bojadzic, the former deputy commander of the Zulfikar Unit, had said, ‘Finish with Trusina. Not even a chicken must stay alive,’ and then ordered subordinate Nedzad Hodzic, over a walkie-talkie, to shoot six captured Croatian Defense Council members.

Residovic said that prior to her testimony, Handanovic had studied the evidence. She said that Handanovic had the status of a defendant at the time and hadn’t taken an oath when she gave her testimony. According to Residovic, Handanovic cast blame on others in order to avoid responsibility for other crimes she committed.

Residovic also commented on testimony given by a protected witness known as O, who said Bojadzic told members of the Zulfikar Unit that “they should act in the direction of Trusina” and that “not even an ear must remain alive.” According Residovic, the witness said this happened in the village of Parsovici, the location from which the soldiers departed before attacking Trusina.

Residovic said O said different things about those facts during the investigation. According to Residovic, O said he thought Bojadzic said “not even an ear must remain alive,” while they were in Bradina, but not in front of lined up soldiers. According to evidence presented at the trial, members of the Zulfikar Unit came to Parsovici from Bradina. Residovic said none of the witnesses confirmed O’s allegations.

“It is simply impossible that this witness was the only one of about 30 members who heard that,” Residovic said, adding that evidence indicated that O also committed murders in Trusina.

Residovic said the court couldn’t trust the testimony of protected witnesses known X and L either. These two witnesses accused Bojadzic during their testimonies.

The presentation of the closing statement will continue on June 8.