Defense Witness Says Radisic Was Ordinary Soldier, Not a Commander

Radisic, a former commander of a work squad of the Teslicka Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with participating in the abuse of Bosniak civilians in Teslic from 1992 to 1995.

He has been charged with taking several persons to locations where they performed forced labour. While working on the the frontlines, at least six civilians were killed and some were wounded.

Mile Radesic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, testified at today’s hearing in Radisic’s defense. He said conflict broke out in the village of Radisici in the municipality of Teslic during the war, as the village was located in a zone separating the Croatian Defense Council from the Bosnian Serb Army.

Radesic said Radisici had organized a village watch, and that he and the defendant participated in activities involved with the watch. He said he and the defendant spent a few days in Vis Plane on Mount Zmajevac in August 1992. Radesic said he returned to Radisici, while the defendant stayed behind.

“I heard Pero was injured. He had hearing problems and was on sick leave. I used to see him at home in the village. Radisic was never a commander. He wasn’t a member of those structures. He was an ordinary soldier,” Radesic said.

Radesic said some individuals in the area were recruited to perform civilian tasks, such as building dugouts and digging trenches. He said their commanders had expressed the need for a work squad.

“I don’t know exactly who brought those men to the frontline. Someone from the battalion’s supporting unit. I sometimes saw Radisic bring people to the frontline. Soldiers who were on the frontline would accompany the work squad,” Radesic said.

Radesic said he had known the defendant his entire life and never heard or saw him commit any wrongdoing during the war.

The next hearing is scheduled for January 22.