Rajko Danilovic, a Belgrade attorney representing the families of the victims, told Hina Panic confirmed that the JNA had left the prisoners from Vukovar's general hospital at the mercy of the Vukovar Territorial Defence (TO).
Panic, now a retired Lieutenant General, began his testimony by saying, "I'm sorry and feel bad (the massacre) took place. Neither the Guard Brigade not the officers (known as the Vukovar Three) deserved that because the job was done professionally".
He said the job, "liberating the people who were being killed and abused," had been carried out. He added the JNA had been "surprised by the number of people it found in Vukovar's basements," stating there had been about 12,000.
The trial of 17 members of the Vukovar TO and the Leva Supoderica paramilitary unit who, according to witness testimonies so far, were under the command of and within the JNA, resumes on December 15.