On je rekao da je bio u bolnici u vrijeme kad su hrvatski zatvorenici pogubljeni, i da je postao komandant teritorijalne odbrane tek nakon što su jugoslovenske snage, uz pomoć srpskih paravojnih grupa, preuzele kontrolu nad Vukovarom.
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.