Examination of State Prosecutions Witnesses Rejected
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Prosecutor Vesna Ilic planned to examine new witnesses and present evidence following the completion of the presentation of Defences evidence. The Defence of Dzeko, who is charged with crimes against Croats in Trusina village, near Konjic, and Jablanica, objected to the proposal.
As she said, witness Safet Haketa was due to testify about the transportation of two wounded persons from Parsovici village, near Trusina, to a wartime hospital in Tarcin, near Hadzici.
Testifying in his defence, Dzeko said that he drove two wounded persons from Trusina to nearby Gostovici, where they received first aid, and then from Parsovici to Suhodol.
Dzeko, former member of Zulfikar Squad of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, is charged with having participated in the shooting of several Croats in Trusina on April 16, 1993. According to previous testimonies, the shooting happened after the wounding of two members of the Zulfikar Squad.
The Defence considers that, at this stage the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot invite a witness, on whose testimony it gave up during the presentation of its evidence.
The Prosecution also wanted to examine witness Vahid Karavelic, who was Deputy Commander of the First Corps in the first half of 1993.
He was due to testify about the subordination of the Zulfikar Squad, because the Defence presented a document, indicating that, prior to the crime in Trusina, the Squad had been transferred from the Main Command Headquarters to the First Corps. The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina alleges that the Zulfikar Squad was subordinate to the Supreme Commands Headquarters when the crimes were committed.
The Prosecution was obliged to confirm its allegations contained in the indictment by presenting evidence about them, said Edina Residovic, Defence attorney of Dzeko.
The Trial Chamber said that Karavelics testimony was irrelevant to the happenings in Trusina. The Trial Chamber allowed the State Prosecution to present two pieces of evidence.
The trial is due to continue in two weeks, on March 4.
