Trial of Knezović begins in Split: Police fired at fans

The trial of Oliver Knezović, accused of killing FK Sarajevo fan Vedran Puljić and wounding six others during riots in front of the Pecara football stadium in Široki Brijeg on October 4, 2009, began in Split today, Index.hr reports, with Patria news agency conveying the information.

Knezović was initially put on trial in Bosnia, but the proceedings were transferred to Croatia because Knezović resides in Zagreb. The indictment was confirmed, and then the case was delegated to Split by a decision of the Supreme Court. They believe that reconstructing the crime scene will be easier for the court in Split than for the one in Zagreb.

Knezović understood the indictment and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He will give his defense at the end of the evidentiary proceedings. Nikša Wagner, the Split prosecutor representing the prosecution, stated in his opening statement that he would prove that Knezović committed the acts he is accused of. He emphasized that Knezović himself does not dispute that the events described in the indictment occurred, but denies firing, claiming instead that he returned the pistol to the police officer.

Wagner will prove otherwise based on the testimony of police officer Dragan Vujević and his colleagues, who mostly explicitly accuse Knezović. Defense attorney Milenko Umićević said he expected the proceedings to be stayed in Zagreb. He believes the indictment is based solely on the assumption that Knezović fired the pistol at Puljić and six others.

Three shell casings from that pistol were found at the scene, but along with them, 15 more shell casings from other pistols used by police officers. The paraffin glove test indicated that an equal number of particle traces were found on the hands of both Knezović and the police officer who carried the pistol from which the shots were fired, Umićević pointed out.

Two injured parties, wounded in the incident, were also questioned today.

Witness Eldar Spahić, an FK Sarajevo fan, saw police officers firing.

- Some fired into the air, and some at the fans - he said.

He explained that the fans of Sarajevo and Široki were mixed and that the police did not choose which fans to shoot at.

- Shots were fired even after I was wounded. I saw police officers shooting at people - Spahić said.

A bullet hit him in the thigh. It was only removed two days later at a hospital in Sarajevo. As they were putting him into a car to transport him to the hospital, he also heard automatic gunfire. He had never seen the accused Knezović before and does not remember him from Široki when he was wounded.

Witness Arnes Šabeta was also wounded. He also confirmed that police officers fired at the fans. He says this happened about ten minutes after he was wounded.

- I didn't know the late Vedran Puljić before. I saw him lying dead on the asphalt for the first time - Šabeta said.

Knezović is accused of taking police officer Dragan Vujević's service pistol, a Glock 19, 9mm caliber, and firing ten shots from a distance of 54.5 meters towards FK Sarajevo fans, as well as citizens of Široki Brijeg. He hit Vedran Puljić in the head with one shot. Spahić and Šabeta were wounded in the legs, Amir Hadžić was hit in the chest, Azmir Nukić in the right arm, and Mirzet Šabanović in the neck. Police officer Vujević stated during questioning that he did not fire at all during the incident and that Oliver Knezović snatched the pistol from his holster. He also saw him firing towards the stadium where the visiting fans were located.