Witness in Marinovic Trial Says Injured Party “Spread Propaganda”

Testifying before the district court of Banja Luka, witness Drago Cavrovic said he had known injured party Milomir Antunovic his entire life. He said he used to live in the village of Osinje, where 90 percent of the inhabitants were Croats.

“When the war broke out, he was was rather negative and spread propaganda among the Croat population. He said he had hidden weapons,” Cavrovic said. He said knew this because his wife was a member of Antunovic’s family and he visited them frequently.

According to Cavrovic, the entire village was mad at Antunovic because of what he was saying. He said local residents requested to talk to him. Cavrovic said when his mother was killed, Antunovic hid in the woods for a period of time.

“The whole village rumoured that he was wounded when he tried to flee. I don’t know who wounded him,” Cavrovic said.

Prosecutor Igor Cimesa presented the witness with a report made during the investigation phase of the case. The report indicates that Cavrovic previously said he heard Antunovic was wounded by Marinovic and Ratko Ivancevic. Cavrovic confirmed that this was true.

According to the charges, Marinovic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS), fired several bullets at injured party Antunovic in his family home in the vilalge of Ovanjska in June 1992. Antunovic was shot in the chest and upper arm.

The trial will continue on March 9.