Defense Witnesses Say Maric Didn’t Assault or Torture Detainees

Maric, a former member of the Croatian Defense Council, has been charged with 25 counts of murder, torture and other inhumane acts committed against the Bosniak population in Prozor from November 1992 to October 1993.

Jozo Mestrovic, a former commander of the military police company in Prozor, testified at today’s hearing. Mestrovic said he went to Gorica with Nikola Maric and others to apprehend Hamdo Bevab. He said according to the information they had, Bevab was an armed rogue.

“Bevab was interesting to me because of the explosives, there had been a big sabotage operation which included the mining a bridge that happened earlier in Gorica…We came there to disarm and apprehend him,” Mestrovic said.

He said they found Bevab drinking brandy in front of his house at around 10 p.m. He said he initially denied being armed, but then admitted to having a hunting rifle.

Mestrovic said later he also confirmed he had another rifle, but said it belonged to his underage son.

“He wanted his kid to come with him. We may have made an omission when we allowed the son to come with us, but he simply insisted on it,” Mestrovic said.

Mestrovic said Maric’s task was to escort Bevab and his son to the military police while he paid a visit to his relatives in Gornji Lug. Mestrovic said when he returned about fifteen minutes later, he saw Maric’s car parked in front of his family home in Gornji Lug.

“I entered the house and saw three men sitting together. I don’t know where the third one came from. There was a problem because of the boy…The safety service said to bring the two of them and to take the boy back home,” Mestrovic said. He said he left 20 minutes later.

Mestrovic said no one was mistreated during the time he spent in Gorica and Gornji Lug. He said Maric didn’t beat anyone, nor did he shoot or extinguish cigarettes on any of the detainees.

“Hearing the father shouting at his son and telling him to admit the rifle belonged to him was the worst thing that happened,” Mestrovic said.

Mato Zadro, a former member of the Croatian Home Guard, also testified at today’s hearing. Zadro used to guard a school building which held Bosniak detainees.

Zadro said a captive was wounded one night after two soldiers had brought some men to the school. Zadro said he was far away from the school, and didn’t see what happened. He said he heard a gunshot and saw the wounded person being carried out in a blanket.

Zarko Zelenika was also invited to testify by the defense. Zelenika described an operation in the village of Tolovac. He said he went to Tolovac with Maric, who was also a member of military police, after having been told that a group of men had been noticed and that they should detain them.

Zelenika said a man told them more than 200 people were in Tolovac.

“We sent a boy to invite the men to come and tell them their safety was guaranteed…23 of them appeared on the second or third day,” Zelenika said. He said they returned to the town on the same day “to try and win their positions back.”

Zelenika said Maric didn’t beat, curse or insult anyone while he was with him in Tolovac.

The trial will continue on October 1.