RIJEKA, Jan 10 (Hina) - The trial against the so-called Gospic Group continued on Friday at Rijeka County Court with the testimony of the second last witness, Davor Pajtl, who was the commander of the 118th brigade until the autumn of
1991. Pajtl said that while he was in command one of the defendants, Tihomir Oreskovic, was involved with administrative duties.
RIJEKA, Jan 10 (Hina) - The trial against the so-called Gospic Group
continued on Friday at Rijeka County Court with the testimony of the
second last witness, Davor Pajtl, who was the commander of the 118th
brigade until the autumn of 1991. Pajtl said that while he was in
command one of the defendants, Tihomir Oreskovic, was involved with
administrative duties. #L#
Following the end of today's hearing the president of the judicial
council, Judge Ika Saric, reported that one more witness would be
called to the stand.
After that, most likely on Thursday, the defendants will begin to
present their defence which will bring the main hearing of this
trial towards its final phase.
Today's witness, called to give evidence in defence of Tihomir
Oreskovic, was the commander of the 118th brigade until the autumn
of 1991. He said that he was deployed to Gospic to organise the
brigade there and was therefore the brigade's first commander. He
spoke about the organisation of that brigade and the organisation
of the defence of Gospic. Pajtl said that Oreskovic was engaged only
in administrative duties and that he did not conduct military
tasks. After he was replaced as commander by the other defendant
Mirko Norac, Pajtl joined Croatian army units in Otocac.
In addition to Oreskovic and Norac, the Gospic Group consists of
Ivica Rozic, Stjepan Grandic and Milan Canic who have been accused
of war crimes against civilians committed in the autumn of 1991 in
the Gospic area. Canic is currently out on bail while the remainder
are being held in Rijeka County Jail.
(hina) sp ms