Former paramilitary recalls Trnovo murders

A witness told the trial of a former member of the Scorpions paramilitary formation yesterday that he had taped the murders of Muslims from Srebrenica. Witness Slobodan Stojkovic said that following orders from the unit’s commander, Slobodan Medic, he had videotaped the execution of five Muslims from the Srebrenica suburb of Trnovo in 1995. Aleksandar Medic is charged with participating in that crime. Former paramilitary recalls Trnovo murders At yesterday’s hearing, Stojkovic said that he had joined the unit in 1992, and when they had set off towards Trnovo, Slobodan Medic told him to “go and tape it.” When he had wanted to ask him something, the commander had replied: “Don’t ask me anything.” According to the witness’s testimony, they set off in a lorry transporting prisoners, and Branislav Medic said on the way that he would tape the executions. When they arrived near some abandoned houses, someone ordered the prisoners to get out of the lorry, so they lay down at the side of the road, while he filmed it all. When the battery ran out, Branislav Medic sent for another. Stojkovic said that, in the meantime, Vukov appeared there from the front line with two other men, including Djole Siptar, who remained there, while Vukov returned immediately. "They were all shouting at the prisoners to get up and move, Petrasevic selected one and shot him,” Stojkovic recalled, adding that “initially I saw Petrasevic shoot, followed by Branislav Medic.” Stojkovic added that he could not see the others, and that he could not say for sure where Aleksandar Medic was standing. Four more prisoners were murdered in the valley close to the abandoned houses, while the remaining two prisoners carried the bodies into one of the houses, before being murdered too. When they returned to HQ, Stojkovic said that he had seen Petrasevic talking to Slobodan Medic, and that it was later claimed that Aleksandar Medic had not fired, as he had not cleaned his rifle afterwards. When the Trial Chamber asked him if the prisoners had had an opportunity to escape, he said that they had been so badly beaten that there was no chance of them escaping. The tape of the murders of six Muslim men, filmed by Stojkovic, was played at today’s hearing, so the witness stated precisely where each man had been standing on the basis of their voices. A retrial for the Trnovo crimes began on October 15, after the Serbian Supreme Court overturned the first degree ruling sentencing Medic to five years in prison. Initially, the four Scorpion members were sentenced to a total of 58 years in prison for this war crime. Slobodan Medic and Branislav Medic were sentenced to 20 years, Pera Petrasevic to 13, Aleksandar Medic to 5 years in prison, while Aleksandar Vukov was cleared of all charges. The Supreme Court overturned Aleksandar Medic’s sentence and ordered a retrial, while Branislav Medic’s sentence was reduced from 20 to 15 years in prison. The other sentences were upheld. Execution of the men in Trnovo taped by Stojkovic (B92)

Former paramilitary recalls Trnovo murders

At yesterday’s hearing, Stojković said that he had joined the unit in 1992, and when they had set off towards Trnovo, Slobodan Medić told him to “go and tape it.” When he had wanted to ask him something, the commander had replied: “Don’t ask me anything.”

According to the witness’s testimony, they set off in a lorry transporting prisoners, and Branislav Medić said on the way that he would tape the executions.

When they arrived near some abandoned houses, someone ordered the prisoners to get out of the lorry, so they lay down at the side of the road, while he filmed it all. When the battery ran out, Branislav Medić sent for another.

Stojković said that, in the meantime, Vukov appeared there from the front line with two other men, including Đole Šiptar, who remained there, while Vukov returned immediately.

"They were all shouting at the prisoners to get up and move, Petrašević selected one and shot him,” Stojković recalled, adding that “initially I saw Petrašević shoot, followed by Branislav Medić.”

Stojković added that he could not see the others, and that he could not say for sure where Aleksandar Medić was standing.

Four more prisoners were murdered in the valley close to the abandoned houses, while the remaining two prisoners carried the bodies into one of the houses, before being murdered too.

When they returned to HQ, Stojković said that he had seen Petrašević talking to Slobodan Medić, and that it was later claimed that Aleksandar Medić had not fired, as he had not cleaned his rifle afterwards.

When the Trial Chamber asked him if the prisoners had had an opportunity to escape, he said that they had been so badly beaten that there was no chance of them escaping.

The tape of the murders of six Muslim men, filmed by Stojković, was played at today’s hearing, so the witness stated precisely where each man had been standing on the basis of their voices.

A retrial for the Trnovo crimes began on October 15, after the Serbian Supreme Court overturned the first degree ruling sentencing Medić to five years in prison.

Initially, the four Scorpion members were sentenced to a total of 58 years in prison for this war crime.

Slobodan Medić and Branislav Medić were sentenced to 20 years, Pera Petrašević to 13, Aleksandar Medić to 5 years in prison, while Aleksandar Vukov was cleared of all charges.

The Supreme Court overturned Aleksandar Medić’s sentence and ordered a retrial, while Branislav Medić’s sentence was reduced from 20 to 15 years in prison. The other sentences were upheld.