Gotovina et al Judgement Volume I - ICTY

38576clothes-mending workshop. 5400 Neither were there combat units stationed in the ArmyHall in Benkovac, where in August 1995, several wounded persons had been put up. 5401There was a 3rd Brigade command/communications centre in Benkovac which wasmanned by a couple of people. 5402 Novaković was not aware of the SVK using either thefireman’s hall, which was out of the town and close to a railway station, or the nun’sconvent, the post office, or the hotel in Benkovac. 5403 According to Novaković, the SVK7th Corps had had a forward command post in Biljane village for several monthsfollowing January 1993, but this post no longer existed in August 1995. 5404 Accordingto Novaković, there were no combat units anywhere in Benkovac town and the nearestSVK combat unit was 15 to 20 kilometres away. 5405 According to reports Mrkšićreceived on 4 August 1995, which he relayed to Novaković, more than 700 projectileswere fired on Benkovac in an indiscriminate, scatter-shot manner. 54061410. On 25 August 1995, Uzelac, the Commander of the SVK 92nd MotorizedBrigade, reported to the SVK Main Staff that on 4 August 1995 at 5:10 a.m. Croatianforces commenced combat activities in the direction of Benkovac town and the Brigadeforward line defences. 5407 On the basis of the artillery fire flashes, Uzelac and othersdetermined that the artillery was coming from an area in the direction of Debeljak, inSukošan municipality. According to Uzelac’s report, prior to 8 a.m. 80 shells were firedon Benkovac town and 100 shells were fired on the Brigade forward line defences. 5408From 2 p.m. onwards, Croatian forces intensified their artillery fire, particularly from amultiple rocket launcher, and prior to 4 p.m. fired about 120 rockets on and aroundBenkovac and 600-700 rockets on the area of the Brigade’s responsibility. 5409 Atmidnight, 3rd Infantry Brigade Commander Ðurica informed Uzelac that he waswithdrawing to a reserve line just outside Benkovac and on 5 August 1995 between 45400 P1093 (Kosta Novaković, witness statement, 8 March 2007), para. 10; Kosta Novaković, T. 11749-11750; D248 (Maps of the city of Benkovac and area), p. 3, Slobodan Macura barracks marked “B.Macura” barracks.5401 Kosta Novaković, T. 11750-11751.5402 Kosta Novaković, T. 11751; D248 (Maps of the city of Benkovac and area), p. 3, markedcommunications centre and command of the 3rd IBR ARSK.5403 Kosta Novaković, T. 11752, 11917-11918.5404 Kosta Novaković, T. 11750.5405 P1093 (Kosta Novaković, witness statement, 8 March 2007), para. 10.5406 Kosta Novaković, T. 11753.5407 D828 (Report by the commander of the 92nd Motorized Brigade to the SVK Main Staff on the periodfrom 4 to 10 August 1995, 25 August 1995), pp. 1, 8.5408 D828 (Report by the commander of the 92nd Motorized Brigade to the SVK Main Staff on the periodfrom 4 to 10 August 1995, 25 August 1995), p. 1.739Case No.: IT-06-90-T 15 April 2011 `