Mrsic Cross-Examined at Zecovi War Crimes Trial

Defendants Dusan Milunic, Radomir Stojnic, Radovan Cetic, Dusko Zoric, Zoran Stojnic, Zeljko Grbic, Ilija Zoric, Zoran Milunic, Bosko Grujicic, Ljubisa Cetic, Rade Grujcic, Uros Grujcic, Zdravko Antonic and Rajko Gnjatovic have been charged with committing acts of murder, torture, sexual violence, as well as destructing and confiscating property from the local residents of Zecovi.

According to the charges, they participated in a joint criminal enterprise with the civil and military authorities of the municipality of Prijedor, which involved a widespread and systematic attack on the village, conducted by the Bosnian Serb military and police from July 23-28, 1992. The indictment states 29 women and children were also killed in the nearby village of Gradina.

Milunic was the commander of the Rasavacka Company of the Sixth Battalion of the 43rd Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army. Stojnic was the commander of the reserve police station in Rasavci. Cetic was the president of the Serbian Democratic Party and crisis committee in the village of Rasavci. The other defendants were members of the Bosnian Serb military, police and other formations.

Mrsic previously testified before the state court on September 4, when he described the murder of brothers Izet and Ismet Bacic.

Responding to a question from the defense at today’s hearing, he said Dusan Milunic commanded the military unit in Rasavci, while Dragoljub Grbic, since deceased, commanded the Territorial Defense.

Mrsic said he found out about the Zecovi operation one day before it was conducted in July 1992. He said they were given their tasks in front of a local community building in Rasavci. He said no one said the military would join them on the operation.

Mrsic said Stevica Radulovic participated in the Zecovi operation. He said rumours in the area said Radulovic killed the Bacic brothers.

Mrsic said he was in front of the school building in Zecovi where the Bacic brothers were killed. He said Radulovic seemed drunk and “acted in an abnormal manner,” threatening everybody.

He said he did not see any of the people who were in front of the school building threaten the Bacic brothers.

He said Radovan Cetic didn’t issue any orders to him and that defendant Radomir Stojnic did not use the phrase “cleaning of terrain.” He also said he didn’t remember seeing Zoran Milunic in front of the school.

The trial will continue on October 23.