Ranko Radic Testifies In Own Defense, Denies Involvement in Murder

Ranko Rakic, Zeljko Rakic and Marko Stankovic, former members of the Bosnian Serb Army, have been charged with the murder of civilian Zuhra Husanovic in Kucice near Zavidovici in late August or early September 1992.

“It’s very hard for me, because in the statement from the investigation, the son of the injured party said that I cursed his Balijska mother, that [allegation hurts] more than any other accusations. Not only I, but my son and my son-in-law would never have said such a thing. The indictment was a complete lie, one hundred per cent,” Rakic said.

Rakic ​​said that he worked as a registrar and that because of his work he was registered as a member of the Bosnian Serb Army, but never wore a uniform or carried weapons.

Rakic said he found out about Zuhra Husanovic’s death in late October 1992, when Rasim Husanovic came to his office to report his father’s death.

“Rasim was crying and told me that his wife had died. He didn’t have any of his wife’s personal documents so I asked him for a medical certificate of death, and he said he didn’t know that was necessary. I told him to come back again with two witnesses who assisted him during the burial, but he never did so,” Rakic said.

He said he asked Husanovic how his wife was killed. He said Husanovic told him he didn’t see the murder because he was inside the house and that a neighbour told him that his wife had been shot.

“We all knew Rasim Husanovic. He was poor. He often came to me for humanitarian aid. When that mass exodus started, he asked to remain with his children and to return to his place. When that was approved, I personally placed him in a weekend house in Kamenica,” Rakic said.

Rakic’s cross-examination has been postponed until October 26. The prosecutor requested time to prepare himself.