Witnesses Describe Shooting of Neighbour in Fajtovci

The state prosecution has charged Goran Mrdja, Milorad Mrdja, Ranko Mrdja and Mile Kokot, all former members of the Sixth Sanska Infantry Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, with participating in crimes against Bosniaks in the Sanski Most area from 1992 to 1994. Their alleged crimes include acts of murder, rape, assault, theft, as well as other forms of mental and physical abuse.

Testifying at today’s hearing, state prosecution witness Dejan Sajinovic said he was standing in front of a house in Fajtovci after having returned from a military operation in the summer of 1992. He said he heard shooting, for which there was no discernible reason. He said it sounded like someone was shooting into the air in celebration.

Sajinovic said he heard his neighbour, Tahir Ceric, who was standing behind the house, calling his neighbours for help.

“He was lying in the yard next to the house. I noticed he was shot in the stomach,” Sajinovic said. He said he asked for an ambulance, which was passing by at that very moment, to stop.

Sajinovic said he and his best friend, Nenad Vuksa, accompanied Ceric to Lusci Palanka, where Ceric was examined and referred to a surgery.

He said the ambulance left in the direction of Banja Luka. He said he and Vuksa exited the vehicle in Fajtovci, and that Ceric’s brother entered at that point.

Responding to questions from the prosecution, Sajinovic said Ceric was alive and moaning the entire time, but they did not speak at all. He said he didn’t know how he had been wounded. He said he heard he had died later on.

Also testifying at today’s hearing, state prosecution witness Nenad Vuksa confirmed that Dejan Sajinovic called him to help take care of their neighbour. Vuksa said he saw Ceric lying next to the house. He said “didn’t exactly see whether he was wounded” and that Ceric “complained about not feeling well.”

Vuksa was presented with a statement he gave during the investigation, in which he said Ceric was wounded. At today’s hearing, Vuska said he saw “some sort of small dots” on Ceric.

He said they went to Lusci Palanka in an ambulance and that they got out of the vehicle upon their return to Fajtovci. He said Ceric’s brother accompanied him from then on.

He said Ceric was conscious and that he addressed with his nickname, saying, “Borin, help me.”

Vuksa said he found out Ceric had died a month later. He said he didn’t know who shot him.

The trial will continue on February 8.