TRIAL OF MAN CHARGED WITH TWO KILLINGS AT OVCARA STARTS IN VUKOVAR

VUKOVAR, March 24 (Hina) - The trial of Tihomir Misanovic, alias Tijo, commenced on Tuesday morning in Vukovar before the trial chamber of the County Court, headed by Judge Ante Zeljko. Misanovic is accused of killing Djuro Rogic and Vladimir Turba at Ovcara on October 3, 1991 and of having attempted to kill Mato Kusic. The State Attorney Biserka Trenski read the indictment in the presence of witnesses, the defendant and his defence counsel, lawyer Petar Miletic. The indictment alleges that in October 1991, Misanovic, along with Rajko Dujkovic alias Sila and another man called Sapcanin, bundled Mato Kusic into a lorry at the Jakobovac farm near Vukovar. Prior to that Misanovic and other persons beat Kusic. Kusic was taken to the Ovcara farm where he was transferred onto a trailer of a tractor where Djuro Rogic and Vladimir Turba had already been. When the tractor started moving, a shouting "Jump out, Ustashi!" was heard. Before the three men began jumping out of the trailer, Misanovic shot at Turba and Rogic from behind and killed them. Mato Kusic managed to jump out of the trailer and hid in a maize field, the indictment read. Kusic went from there to Negoslovci where Serb forces took him prisoner and transported to Sid and later to the Begejci camp. Apart from the key witness Mato Kusic, another four witnesses are to testify during the trial. The defendant Misanovic of the Serb descent, was arrested on 7 August 1998 according to charges pressed by Mate Kusic. Since then he has been in custody of the Osijek district prison. During Wednesday's hearing the State Attorney demanded the sentence of 20 years in prison for Misanovic who pleaded not- guilty. (hina) ms