ZORANA BANIC TRIAL CONTINUES IN ZADAR

ZADAR, March 12 (Hina) - The Zadar County Court on Tuesday resumed the trial of Zorana Banic, 50, indicted for war crimes against civilians in Skabrnja on November 18, 1991. At the beginning of the court session, defence attorneys Luka Susak and Ranko Radovic objected to the indictment, describing it as "vague and inconcrete." The indictment had been changed, they added, to the defendant's detriment. They said the indictment is not in accordance with the Law on Criminal Proceedings, since it is not specific on concrete crimes the defendant allegedly committed. They moved for a mistrial and requested Banic's release. Deputy County State Prosecutor Mato Dorcic rejected the argument and said the indictment stays as it is. Banic asserted that, from now on, she will stand mute. She reiterated that she has no certificate of citizenship and the only document she has is a refugee certificate issued in Serbia. A witness said she did not see the defendant in Skabrnja on November 18, 1991, when a large number of Croatian civilians were killed. She did say, however, that she heard Banic was among the "Chetniks" who committed the murders. Another witness testified she saw Banic with a group of armed women, but she did not see her fire a weapon. The trial continues on Wednesday. (hina) lml sb