The Special Chamber, led by Judge Vesna Kovačević, announced a first-instance ruling at the Higher Court in Podgorica today, sentencing Marko Zekić, who remains at large, and Miomir Đukić to lengthy prison terms of 40 years each for the murders of Nemanja Prelević and Danilo Peković in Veruša on October 17, 2020. They were also sentenced to 15 years each for the attempted murders of Sujković Kenan, Sujković Ismet, and Kastrat Mirza in Berane in November 2021.

The two defendants were ultimately given a consolidated sentence of 40 years in prison. Mirčeta M. Mihajlović (45) received a 30-year sentence for his role in aiding and abetting the aggravated murders of Prelević and Peković.

Defendants Goran Milašinović, Dragan Biletić, Zlatko Drašković, and Branislav Ivanović were sentenced to ten years each for their involvement in the murders as accomplices. In detailing the conviction, the judge indicated that the Sky communication data retrieved from France constituted valid evidence. According to the judge, Zlatko Drašković had monitored Nemanja Prelević and assessed his routines, while Mihajlović had carried a rifle in his backpack, which he later provided to Zekić and Đukić.

“The court found that Sky provided legally admissible evidence acquired appropriately from France. In the messages, Zekić mentioned a confrontation with Prelević at the ‘Garden’ restaurant and requested surveillance. He even referenced a weekend home in Uvač where Prelević was staying. Sky’s messages were corroborated, highlighting that Prelević indeed owned a weekend house there, where he was shot at close range. Zekić expressed concern over the possibility of leaving traces after the murder was resolved. Following his decision to kill Prelević, he enlisted the help of the other defendants to track his location. Zekić and Miomir Đukić had been in hiding together since August 2020. The Sky correspondence is consistent with other evidence, reinforcing the conclusion that Mihajlović was an accomplice, as he informed Zekić of Prelević’s movements. Zekić later sent a message indicating that they had executed the deed flawlessly without leaving any traces. The electricity supply fuses to Prelević’s vacation home were disconnected by Zekić, Đukić, and Mihajlović, and it was also established that Ivanović, Milašinović, Biletić, and Drašković aided in Prelević’s murder by tracking his whereabouts and being aware of the vehicle he drove.

“In determining the sentence, the court found no mitigating circumstances for Zekić. All the defendants have prior convictions,” Judge Vesna Kovačević noted in her explanation of the ruling.

The court acquitted Vasilije M. Đukić and Nenad M. Milačić of aggravated murder committed by aiding and abetting under Article 144, Item 8, in conjunction with Article 25 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. Judge Kovačević ordered their immediate release.

Due to insufficient evidence, the court also acquitted defendant Marko S. Zekić (34) of the charge of forming a criminal organization under Article 401a, paragraph 1, in conjunction with paragraph 6 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro, as well as the defendants Miomir Ž. Đukić (35), Mirčeta M. Mihajlović (45), Vasilije M. Đukić (29), Dragan Z. Biletić (40), Goran M. Milašinović (46), Nenad M. Milačić (40), and Branislav S. Ivanović (41) from Podgorica, all currently at large, and Dragan Tarić (32) from Užice, Serbia, for the same charge under Article 401a, paragraph 2, in conjunction with paragraphs 1 and 6 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro.

Zlatko Drašković was exonerated of money laundering charges. Judge Kovačević explained that the existence of a criminal organization had not been established, and that Sky Communications could not serve as the sole evidence.

“Concerning the criminal organization they were acquitted of, the court believes that Sky communication alone is insufficient evidence for such a crime,” stated Judge Kovačević.

The SDT indictment outlines that defendants Marko Zekić, Miomir Đukić, and Mirčeta Mihajlović, on October 17, 2020, in Uvač, Podgorica Municipality, deliberately and collaboratively took the lives of several individuals. Upon learning that the victims would be at the residence of Prelević, they conveyed this information to the direct perpetrators of the crimes, Zekić, Đukić, and Mihajlović. Subsequently, they proceeded to Uvač, where Mihajlović carried firearms in his backpack, including a 10 mm automatic rifle and a 7.62 mm pistol, which he handed over to Zekić and Đukić upon arrival. Outside Prelević’s home, after a brief altercation, they killed him by shooting him multiple times in the upper body and head, resulting in fatal injuries. Following this, they entered Prelević’s house where they shot Danilo Peković multiple times, causing him to die from critical injuries as well. They then fled the scene.

On November 18, 2021, at around 11:22 p.m. on St. Sava Street in Berane, Zekić and Đukić attempted to murder the victims Sujković Kenan, Sujković Ismet, and Kastrat Mirza, operating a “Golf IV” vehicle with Budva license plates. As they approached another vehicle driven by Kenan Sujković, with Ismet in the passenger seat and Kastrat in the back, Đukić turned their vehicle back and pursued them. Upon reaching St. Sava Street near the Berane General Hospital, Zekić fired several shots through the rear window of their vehicle, injuring Kenan with gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, and causing serious injury to Kastrat from a gunshot wound to the knee.

This act constituted the crime of aggravated murder in attempted complicity under Article 144, paragraph 1, item 8 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro.

Jovanović: Lack of material or personal evidence

Defense attorney Stefan Jovanović announced plans to appeal the first-instance verdict on behalf of defendant Zekić.

“This is not a final decision. Therefore, detailed comments are not yet appropriate. However, the defendant’s conviction lacks substantial evidence. The prosecution has not presented any material or personal evidence. We expected to hear such evidence in today’s reasoning,” attorney Jovanović asserted.

He further expressed dissatisfaction with the defense being unable to address all disputed points during the proceedings.

“Effectively, we were restricted from proving the innocence of all those convicted. The defense proposed over 20 pieces of evidence, yet only one was partially accepted, which speaks volumes about the limitations we faced,” he concluded.

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