RIJEKA-Sudovi RIJEKA: WITNESS SAYS ONE OF THE ACCUSED ORDERED FIRING AT CIVILIANS RIJEKA, April 4 (Hina)- Joso Vucetic, testifying on Thursday in the war crimes trial against the so-called Gospic Group, claimed he was in the firing
squad that liquidated civilians near Gospic in October 1991 and that the order to fire was given by one of the accused, Stjepan Grandic.
RIJEKA, April 4 (Hina)- Joso Vucetic, testifying on Thursday in the
war crimes trial against the so-called Gospic Group, claimed he was
in the firing squad that liquidated civilians near Gospic in
October 1991 and that the order to fire was given by one of the
accused, Stjepan Grandic. #L#
Vucetic described the events that took place on Lipova Glavica,
near Gospic, where a group of Serb civilians were liquidated.
Vucetic claimed the accused Grandic lined up the civilians and
ordered that they be shot. Vucetic, as he himself said, did not
shoot because he had used all his ammunition in the field.
After the civilians had fallen, Vucetic continued, Grandic
approached him and asked why he did not shoot, leaning his gun
against Vucetic's head and saying "You're going with them". Vucetic
claimed that Grandic would surely have shot him had the others not
intervened.
Vucetic also said that Grandic certainly knew who the eight or 10
disguised persons who participated in the execution were.
The witness claimed he was receiving threatening telephone calls as
a result of his agreeing to testify in the trial, and he presented
Judge Ika Saric, presiding proceedings, with a letter he received
during the investigation.
The anonymous letter describes in detail what Vucetic is supposed
to say at the trial. Amongst else, the letter states he is to claim
that the liquidation was organised and conducted by disguised
persons, and that following the execution Grandic, revolted, asked
who had fired.
The trial is to continue Friday.
(hina) sp sb