Trusina massacre

Trusina massacre
LocationTrusina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Date16 April 1993 (Central European Time)
TargetCroats
Attack type
Mass murder
Deaths22
PerpetratorsArmy of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH)

The Trusina massacre occurred on 16 April 1993 in the village of Trusina, located in the municipality of Konjic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where 22 people, four Croat prisoners of war and 18 Croat civilians, were killed by the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) during the Croat–Bosniak War.

Background

Trusina is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Trusina
Trusina
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Location of Trusina in Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 16 April 1993, between 8 and 9am, an engagement between the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) and the forces of the Croatian Defense Council began. After the first few hours of the battle, ARBiH troops broke the Croatian defense, and captured Croat soldiers. Eighteen civilians, including two children, and four captured Croat fighters were killed in various locations during and/or after the battle.[1] The remaining civilians, mostly women and children were detained in several private houses, and later released from the village.[1]

Trials

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charged six members of the Bosnian army's "Zulfikar" special unit including Mensur Memić, Dževad Salčin, Nedžad Hodžić, Senad Hakalović, Nihad Bojadžić and Zulfikar Ališpago for the murder of 22 people, including four HVO members and 18 civilians.[2] Two other suspects, Edin Džeko[3][4][5] and Rasema Handanović[6][7] were extradited from the US for their alleged involvement, having been denaturalized and stripped of their US citizenship after their role in the massacre became known to US authorities.

In April 2012, Rasema Handanović pleaded guilty to killing Croat civilians and prisoners of war, expressing "deep regret" for her actions.[8] She was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment after she agreed to testify against the "Zulfikar" unit members in a plea bargain.[9]

In September 2015, Memić, Hodžić, and Bojadžić were found guilty of killing of prisoners of war and civilians during a "preplanned and prepared attack against the Croat population of the village of Trusina".[10] The trial verdict was upheld in January 2017.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Time for Truth: Review of the Work of the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2005-2010" (PDF). Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  2. ^ "Memic et al: Witnessing the Shooting of Captives". Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Edin Dzeko Agrees to be Extradited to Bosnia and Herzegovina". Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. 16 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  4. ^ Sito-Sucic, Daria (20 December 2011). "U.S. extradites war crimes suspect to Bosnia". Reuters.
  5. ^ "US extradites war crimes suspect to Bosnia to face charges he killed civilians". Washington Post. 20 December 2011.[dead link]
  6. ^ "US extradites war crimes suspect to Bosnia". MSNBC. 27 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Custody for Rasema Handanovic requested". Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-07-19. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  8. ^ "Bosnian woman pleads guilty to war crimes". The Montreal Gazette. 28 April 2012.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Bosnian war crimes court jails first woman". Reuter. 30 April 2012.
  10. ^ "First Instance Verdict in Mensur Memić et al. Pronounced". Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Trial Verdict upheld in Mensur Memić et al". Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2020.