He said he was in hospital at the time the Croatian prisoners were executed, and only became territorial defence commander after Yugoslav forces, aided by Serbian paramilitary groups, took control of Vukovar.
El a afirmat că s-a aflat în spital la momentul execuţiei prizonierilor croaţi şi că a devenit comandant al apărării teritoriale după ce forţele iugoslave, ajutate de grupurile paramilitare sârbe, au preluat controlul asupra oraşului Vukovar.