Mutual accusations in Suva Reka trial

Sladjan Cukaric and Milorad Nisavic, accused for crimes in Suva Reka, Kosovo, in 1999, have accused each other for the killing of 48 ethnic Albanian civilians. The pair did so as their trial before Belgrade's District Court War Crimes Chamber continued on Monday. Mutual accusations in Suva Reka trial Cukaric amended his defense, admitting knowledge of the killing of Albanians on March 26, 1999, which he first claimed – when the trial began two and a half year ago – he had heard of from the media. He said that after he was arrested, when the trial began on Oct. 2, 2006, it was suggested he defend himself by silence, and state he knew nothing about the murder of 48 members of the Berisha family in Suva Reka. Cukaric, who was a local police officer, said that the other accused, Nisavic, a member of state security during the NATO bombing of Serbia – which had started two days before the murders in Suva Reka –killed several Berishas as a personal vendetta. When the court asked why he was admitting these details two and a half years later, Cukaric answered that he had not wanted to talk about that because of security reasons and threats to his family. In front of the house where one of the Berisha families lived, the accused said he saw four bodies and that Nisavic had kicked one of the bodies. “I heard a burst of fire which came from the house. It lasted from five to ten seconds. I heard Nisavic ask (the deceased) Radovan Tanovic, ‘is it finished, was anything left behind,’” said Cukaric, adding that after that Nisavic pointed his hand toward the bodies and said “carry them behind the house, burn them.’” Nisavic denied all of Cukaric’s claims, saying that the lies were uttered because of what he wrote in his own official notes in 2001, when the investigation of the case began. Nisavic, at the beginning of his trial, said that Cukaric participated in the murders of Berisha family members. According to the indictment, police and accomplices from Suva Reka shot several older members of the Berisha family and the remaining men, women and children were forced into the nearby Kalabrija pizzeria, where two hand grenades were then thrown. After that victims from one to 100 years old were shot, and when the bodies were taken from the pizzeria any who showed signs of life were shot. After that, Jashar Barisha was taken to the scene and killed, while Abdulah Elshani was taken out of a local prison, tied and killed. For ordering the murders on March 26, 1999, Radoslav Mitrovic, then commander 37th Special Police Units (PJP), Suva Reka Police Commander Radojko Repanovic and his deputy Nenad Jovanovic were also charged. In addition to Cukaric and Nisavic, policemen from Suva Reka are Miroslav Petkovic, Zoran Petkovic and Ramiz Papic were also charged.

Mutual accusations in Suva Reka trial

Čukarić amended his defense, admitting knowledge of the killing of Albanians on March 26, 1999, which he first claimed – when the trial began two and a half year ago – he had heard of from the media.

He said that after he was arrested, when the trial began on Oct. 2, 2006, it was suggested he defend himself by silence, and state he knew nothing about the murder of 48 members of the Berisha family in Suva Reka.

Čukarić, who was a local police officer, said that the other accused, Nišavić, a member of state security during the NATO bombing of Serbia – which had started two days before the murders in Suva Reka –killed several Berishas as a personal vendetta.

When the court asked why he was admitting these details two and a half years later, Čukarić answered that he had not wanted to talk about that because of security reasons and threats to his family.

In front of the house where one of the Berisha families lived, the accused said he saw four bodies and that Nišavić had kicked one of the bodies.

“I heard a burst of fire which came from the house. It lasted from five to ten seconds. I heard Nišavić ask (the deceased) Radovan Tanović, ‘is it finished, was anything left behind,’” said Čukarić, adding that after that Nišavić pointed his hand toward the bodies and said “carry them behind the house, burn them.’”

Nišavić denied all of Čukarić’s claims, saying that the lies were uttered because of what he wrote in his own official notes in 2001, when the investigation of the case began.

Nišavić, at the beginning of his trial, said that Čukarić participated in the murders of Berisha family members.

According to the indictment, police and accomplices from Suva Reka shot several older members of the Berisha family and the remaining men, women and children were forced into the nearby Kalabrija pizzeria, where two hand grenades were then thrown.

After that victims from one to 100 years old were shot, and when the bodies were taken from the pizzeria any who showed signs of life were shot. After that, Jashar Barisha was taken to the scene and killed, while Abdulah Elshani was taken out of a local prison, tied and killed.

For ordering the murders on March 26, 1999, Radoslav Mitrović, then commander 37th Special Police Units (PJP), Suva Reka Police Commander Radojko Repanović and his deputy Nenad Jovanović were also charged.

In addition to Čukarić and Nišavić, policemen from Suva Reka are Miroslav Petković, Zoran Petković and Ramiz Papić were also charged.