The defense lawyer representing arrested police officer Petar Lazović, accused of torturing two suspected members of the Skalja clan, Jovan Mrvaljević and Milo Jovanović, has requested the removal of correspondence from the previously protected Sky application from the case file.

“Included in the indictment are two CDs containing data from the Sky application. The defense argues that this evidence is not legally valid, and therefore I propose it be removed from the case file. Should the court not agree, I request an explanation of the evidence’s admissibility and what measures the French authorities have taken that align with our legal standards,” stated attorney Nikola Martinović.

Martinović made these remarks during the trial at the Basic Court in Podgorica, presided over by Judge Ilija Radulović, where the proceedings for Lazović and former police official Jugoslav Raičević were ongoing.

“Countering the defense’s claims, the court stated that this material was procured via a letter of request for this case. This is inaccurate; it was obtained for another case,” argued Lazović’s other attorney, Marko Radović.

He also noted that Montenegro would not have obtained this material had it been requested for the offense in question, as it was not intended for use in these specific criminal proceedings.

Radović requested that general documentation concerning the exclusion of Sky is procured.

He urged Judge Radulović to refer to the January 2025 decision from the Court of Appeal, which overturned a previous ruling from the Higher Court in Podgorica where Sky material was allowed as evidence.

On December 16th of the previous year, the president of the pre-trial criminal chamber of the Basic Court in Podgorica affirmed the indictment from the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office against Petar Lazović and Jugoslav Raičević for the torture of Jovan Mrvaljević, and against Lazović for torturing Milo Jovanović.

Prosecutor Biljana Pavličić expressed her opposition to the defense’s requests, arguing that the indictment’s confirmation established the legal validity of the evidence.

“I object to the examination of this evidence at this time… I believe there are no barriers to the defense being presented today if the court deems it appropriate,” she stated.

“To allow the court to adequately assess the defense’s requests, the Podgorica Public Prosecutor’s Office must submit documentation and explanations regarding the acquisition of the Sky documentation, its legal nature, and compliance with our legal principles within 15 days. They must also provide general documentation regarding the exclusion of Sky, which is crucial for the court’s deliberation on the defense’s proposals,” ordered Judge Radulović.

Prosecutor Pavličić maintained that she did not wish to dispute the court’s authority but emphasized that the prosecution had presented all the evidence obtained from the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, indicating they were not required to provide anything extraneous.

“I did not conceal any evidence; I provided everything we received,” she asserted.

The representative for the injured party, Jovanović, attorney Damir Lekić, stated that the Sky evidence is ancillary in this case.

“I’m uncertain why this case is entangled with Sky; I believe pursuing it is unnecessary, and I suggest the prosecutor withdraw it,” recommended Lekić.

Mrvaljević’s legal representative, attorney Tatjana Pavličić, concurred with Lekić’s sentiments.

“There is indeed ample evidence in this case beyond that of Sky,” she commented.

The trial has been adjourned until April 4th.

News