VUKOVAR CONTINUE VUKOVAR, Sept 8 (Hina) - Following a two-month pause, the trial against 22 persons indicted of war crimes continued at the Vukovar County Court Wednesday. The defendants have been charged with having committed
genocide during the Serb aggression on Vukovar and for war crimes against civilians. Only Stevan Curnic has appeared before the court. The main hearing began on May 25 and so far 16 witnesses have taken the stand. Another seven witnesses for the defence and prosecution testified on Wednesday. After members of the former Yugoslav Peoples' Army and Serb paramilitary troops entered the eastern Croatian town of Vukovar in November 1991, witness Vesna Depisol found shelter with her children in the basement of an elementary school. She was taken to a warehouse where Stevan Curnic threatened to kill her and her children because "he was in authority now". According to her testimony, she was taken from the warehouse to
VUKOVAR, Sept 8 (Hina) - Following a two-month pause, the trial
against 22 persons indicted of war crimes continued at the Vukovar
County Court Wednesday.
The defendants have been charged with having committed genocide
during the Serb aggression on Vukovar and for war crimes against
civilians.
Only Stevan Curnic has appeared before the court. The main hearing
began on May 25 and so far 16 witnesses have taken the stand.
Another seven witnesses for the defence and prosecution testified
on Wednesday.
After members of the former Yugoslav Peoples' Army and Serb
paramilitary troops entered the eastern Croatian town of Vukovar in
November 1991, witness Vesna Depisol found shelter with her
children in the basement of an elementary school.
She was taken to a warehouse where Stevan Curnic threatened to kill
her and her children because "he was in authority now".
According to her testimony, she was taken from the warehouse to a
prison in Sremska Mitrovica (Yugoslavia).
Witness Branimir Kusic was a member of the reservist troops in the
defence of Vukovar. After he was apprehended, he was also taken to
the "Velepromet" warehouse where, he said, he saw Curnic. Together
with defendant Bozo Latinovic, Curnic, pointed his finger at
certain persons who were then taken out of the warehouse and would
not return.
The following day, Kusica was interrogated by defendant Nenad Zigic
while two other persons were beating him with their feet and ticks.
Kusica was taken to the Stajicevo concentration camp the day
after.
Witness Zivorad Miljkovic said that during the war he had worked as
a mortician. He met Curnic in Velepromet while he was held captive.
He said he had not seen Curnic beating anybody.
Witness Mirko Hedji said he had known Curnic before the war. In
November 1991, he saw Curnic in a uniform and armed, but had not seen
him abuse anyone.
Witness Milovan Cveticanin was a military reservist of the former
JNA in Vukovar until February 92. According to him, everything had
been "under control" until November 18, 1991, while from November
18 to 20, "due to the large number of people on a small area, events
happened which were out of control, that is, assaults on some
people".
He said Curnic was a person to be avoided as he had not belonged to
any military formation, but came round when he needed something.
"When they were brought, the prisoners were divided into Croats and
Serbs, for example, Serbs would be taken to Djakovo and Croats
somewhere in Serbia," Cveticanin said.
Besides Curnic, Cveticanin also saw most of the other indictees at
the warehouse.
Witness Sreto Nikolic also said he had seen Curnic in Velepromet
where he was being imprisoned. He said that on one occasion, while
he was being beaten, Curnic came and said Nikolic was his brother,
saving him from further beatings.
The witness also stressed he had knowledge of Curnic having
protected other prisoners.
The continuation of the trial will be scheduled at a later date.
(hina) lml