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In this statement Jovanovic confirmed what he had previously told investigators of the State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA.
He said that, in July 1995 he saw captives being brought from Srebrenica to a school building in Petkovci, Zvornik municipality. As he said, witness Jovanovic then left the school building and went to the main road in the vicinity of the school.
He said that, while he was standing there, he noticed that commanding officers of the Sixth Battalion with the Zvornik Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, went towards the school and came back. Also, he said that he saw Commander Stanisic and Deputy Milosevic, but they were not together.
Jovanovic’s statement was read at the last hearing, because a medical court expert had determined that any type of stress would represent an additional risk to the witness’ health. A video recording of him giving his statement was played in the courtroom today.
Had the witness been in the courtroom, the Defence would have asked him whether he remembered the events from July 1995 at all, considering his health problems, and whether he could fully remember the events about which he was examined during the investigation. The Defence would have also asked him whether he would accept that he did not see the entire path of the indictees.
The Defence said that, considering the fact that he told SIPA that he thought that he saw Milosevic going towards the school and coming back, he would have been asked whether he was sure about that.
Stanisic and Milosevic are on trial for the murder of about 1,000 Srebrenica residents on a dam near Petkovci in mid July 1995. The indictment alleges that the captives were transported from the school to the dam.
According to the charges, Stanisic was Commander of the Sixth Battalion of Zvornik Brigade, while Milosevic was his Deputy.
The trial is due to continue on September 10.
