SDT and Defense Attorney’s Appeals Denied; Vujačić Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
Today, the Court of Appeal of Montenegro announced that it has dismissed, as unfounded, the appeals filed by the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT) and the defense counsel for the accused Marjan Vujačić, regarding the High Court ruling in Podgorica – Special Department for Organized Crime, Corruption, Terrorism and War Crimes dated April 3, 2024.
“In the initial ruling by the Higher Court in Podgorica, Marjan Vujačić was convicted of two counts of murder and two counts of illegal possession of weapons and explosives, resulting in a consolidated prison sentence of 20 years. The court also acquitted him of the charge related to the formation of a criminal organization. Both the Special State Prosecutor’s Office and the defense filed appeals against this ruling,” the statement from the Court of Appeals indicated.
The statement further elaborated that during the appeal proceedings, the panel found that the statute of limitations regarding the criminal charge of illegal possession of weapons and explosives had expired on November 19, 2024.
“The statute of limitations for this offense had lapsed prior to the case being submitted to the Court of Appeal of Montenegro for resolution on December 17, 2024. Consequently, this court amended the initial ruling by dismissing the charge related to one count of illegal possession of weapons and explosives, owing to the expiration of the statute of limitations. After assessing the sentences for each individual count of murder and one count of illegal possession of weapons and explosives, the court maintained the same consolidated sentence of 20 years of imprisonment for the defendant. The detailed reasoning behind the verdict from the Court of Appeal of Montenegro Kž-S.br. 29/24 dated March 4, 2025, will be published on the Court of Appeal’s website,” the statement read.
On April 3, 2024, Vujačić received a single prison sentence of 20 years for the murders of Veselin Kalezić and Milo Ilić in Podgorica, as well as for two separate charges of illegal possession of weapons.
The ruling was rendered by a panel presided over by Judge Amir Đokaj.
The court cleared him of the charges regarding the creation of a criminal organization.
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