Killing of Serb Civilians in Ilidza and Hadzici

As Ratko Mladic’s trial continues, a Defence witness says that, being a member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, he saw unselective shelling by the Army of BiH from their positions on Mount Igman.

Witness Sinisa Maksimovic said that he performed several functions with the Igman and Romanija Brigades of VRS during the war and that he saw members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH, shelling Ilidza and Hadzici using mine-throwers and howitzers.

“Besides military buildings, there were civilian buildings in Hadzici. They were damaged the most. Due to its position, Hadzici was constantly shelled from elevated locations. It seems to me that it was done without any order. I know that civilians in Ilidza and Hadzici often got killed due to the shelling from Igman,” Maksimovic said.

He mentioned that he was at Spicasta Stijena above Sarajevo with a company for a certain period of time during the war and that no sniper fire was opened at Sarajevo at that time. He said that the Army of BiH held “the most dominant position” in that area, adding that the position was situated on Grdonj Hill from which Spicasta Stijena could be seen.  

During the cross-examination Hague prosecutors examined Maksimovic on whether he knew which VRS units were located at Spicasta Stijena in March 1995, when, as alleged under the indictment against Mladic, a sniper bullet wounded a fifteen year-old boy on his hand. He said that he was not present at Spicasta Stijena in that period of time and that he could not respond to that question.  

Maksimovic testified in defence of former VRS Commander Ratko Mladic, who is charged with having conducted a shelling and sniping campaign against civilians in Sarajevo.

Mladic is on trial for genocide in Srebrenica and seven other municipalities, persecution of Bosniaks and Croats in municipalities under Serb control and taking UNPROFOR members hostage.   

The cross-examination of witness Slobodan Tusevljak, former Commander of a squad with the First Sarajevo Motorised Brigade of VRS, was completed at this hearing. Tusevljak said that only one sniper was a member of his unit and that the Brigade had sent him to his Unit.

“He was sent in order to neutralise an enemy sniper, who opened fire from Asimovo Hill,” Tusevljak explained.  

The trial of Mladic is due to continue on Monday, July 7.