Conflicting Testimony on Lukic’s Involvement in Pudin Han Murders

Lukic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with participating in acts of murder, mistreatment and other crimes in Kljuc in 1992. Lukic was originally charged with Predrag Bajic and four others, who have since been sentenced to between five and 13 years in prison.Kumalic’s statement was read out loud in court, because her poor health prevented from making a court appearance. Lukic’s defense agreed to have her statement read in court.Kumalic said she recognized the soldiers who’d invaded Bosniak houses in Pudin Han demanding money. The same soldiers allegedly killed Ibrahim Draganovic and her husband in July 1992.Behija Kumalic, another witness in the trial, said that residents of Pudin Han lived in fear because of the conflict, and so they decided to sleep in one house.“While we were sleeping in my house that night, somebody banged loudly on the door. I opened the door and saw two armed soldiers. My brother-in-law Ibrahim [Draganovic] came to see who was banging at the door. A tall soldier asked for money. I gave him a small amount of money. He said we had to leave the village by 11 on the following day or else he would kill us. They left and took Ibrahim,” Kumalic said.Behija Kumalic said Ibrahim’s wife went to look for him on the following day. Kumalic said when she returned, his wife told her he’d been killed.Kumalic’s statement and the presentation a few pieces of material evidence concluded the prosecution’s presentation of evidence.As the hearing continued, Lukic testified in his own defense. He said he wasn’t in Kljuc on July 27, 1992, or the days following. He said he was on a combat line somewhere near Jajce. Lukic said he went to Kljuc on leave in late August 1992.“I heard about these murders when they arrested me. I thought it was a misunderstanding or a hidden camera show. Then I thought it happened because of my father Nikola, because people said he was an extremist, whose behaviour towards Bosniaks was not very correct during the war,” Lukic said.Witness Radoslav Miljevic said he had known Lukic since the war and that he was not inclined to provoke violence. He described him as not problematic.“I heard from the media that Milan was arrested. I was surprised. We were all assigned automatic rifles and uniforms, but I really can’t remember where Lukic was on July 27 of that year,” Miljevic said.Vujin Milorad and Predrag Malesevic, soldiers who fought with Lukic, also weren’t able to remember where Lukic was on July 27, 1992. They described Lukic as calm, shy and not aggressive.The trial will continue on June 26.