No Evil Neighbour and Comrade

Testifying at the trial of Zeljko Jukic for crimes in Prozor, a Defence witness says that he has known the indictee since wartime, but he has never heard of, or personally seen him committing a crime.

Autor:

Selma Učanbarlić

4. july 2013. | 00:00

This post is also available in: Bosnian

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Nenad Meter, former member of “Rama” Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, said that he lived in the Prozor area in 1992. Indictee Jukic, whom he recognised in the courtroom, and the witness were members of the same unit.

“I have known Zeljko Jukic since the war. We were members of the same unit,” Meter said, adding that he had never heard or seen that the indictee committed any crimes.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Jukic, former member of HVO, with having participated, along with other members of HVO and the Croatian Army, in the persecution of Bosniak civilians, murders and forced disappearances of the Bosniak population from Prozor municipality from July to September 1993.

The Defence presented two photographs to witness Meter, who recognised the indictee on them.

“Zeljko is wearing the dark green uniform. He is short-haired and shaved,” the witness said.

At this hearing the Defence examined Slavko Sicaja, indictee Jukic’s best man and neighbour. Sicaja said that Jukic had always been “a nice and dapper guy” and that he had never heard about him committing a crime.

“I am surprised by this indictment, because I know him. Zeljko is a good man and neighbour. He does not do evil things to anybody,” witness Sicaja said.

The trial is due to continue on July 11, when the Defence will examine three new witnesses.

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