Defense Witnesses Claim They Didn’t See Maric During Prozor Deportations
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Maric, a former member of the Croatian Defense Council (HVO), has been charged with 25 counts of murder, torture and other inhumane acts against the Bosniak population in Prozor from November 1992 to October 1993.
Witness Emir Dervisbegovic said he lived in the village of Duge in the municipality of Prozor until September or October 1993, when he was deported. He said he couldn’t remember the details of his deportation.
He said he knew the defendant, but didn’t see him during the war.
“I haven’t heard that he deported anyone from the village of Duge,” he said, adding that some of his neighbours were taken to detention camps.
A protected witness known as D said he was apprehended in his village and taken to a detention camp with his two brothers on July 6, 1993. D was assigned his pseudonym while testifying in another case before the state court.
Responding to questions from the prosecution, D said he was put on a truck covered with an awning when he was apprehended and couldn’t see much. He said his neighbours told him Maric was in the village, but he didn’t see him personally.
The defense gave up on the examination of five witnesses, one of whom was expected to testify at today’s hearing.
The trial will continue on February 5, when a defense witness and an expert in military issues will be examined.
