Vitez war crimes trial continues for attack on children's playground

The trial of Mensud Keleštura and Hazim Jašarević has continued before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding war crimes committed against civilians in Vitez. The defendants are accused of ordering and executing an artillery attack on a children's playground in the Osmica area on June 10, 1993.

According to the indictment, a 120mm mortar shell struck the playground, resulting in the deaths of eight children and injuring five others. During the proceedings, witnesses provided emotional testimony regarding the incident. Ivan Garić, who was 15 at the time and lost both his siblings in the attack, described the impact of the explosion. Another witness, Lidija Antičević, testified to the loss of her ten-year-old son, Boris.

Keleštura, as commander of the 325th Mountain Brigade of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is charged with ordering the attack on the populated area. Jašarević, then commander of the Brigade Artillery Group, is charged with carrying out the order. Both defendants have previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.