The presentation of evidence for defendant Slobodan Peković, who faces charges of war crimes against civilians, concluded today at the Higher Court in Podgorica. The presiding judge of the special panel, Nada Rabrenović, has set the date for closing arguments on July 11.

Earlier, attorney Dalibor Tomović, representing the injured families, along with defense attorney Mirjana Camović for Peković, requested additional time to prepare their closing statements.

The court denied the defense’s request for a chemical expert examination to verify whether Peković had dyed his hair. The defense argued that this examination could clarify doubts regarding his hair color, specifically that his natural color is black, while witnesses have described him in court as having blond hair and light eyes.

The Special State Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment against Peković. Born as Ćurčić, he is accused of committing war crimes against civilians in 1992. In his defense, Peković claimed he did not kill Muj and Emina Šabanović on June 8, 1992, and stated that he had no prior knowledge of them. He also denied allegations of raping the victim identified as A1 in September 1992.

According to the indictment, on June 8, 1992, during a military assault on the village of Hum in the Foča Municipality, Peković killed Muj and Emina Šabanović.

“I do not accept guilt or a crime. I have never fled or hidden. I wish to prove my innocence. That is why I want to clear my name and my family’s reputation,” Peković stated.

During the same trial, Peković pleaded not guilty to the charge of raping the victim identified as A1.

As per the indictment, on June 8, 1992, during a military operation on the village of Hum, Peković is alleged to have killed Mujo and Emina Šabanović. After Emina stated that there were no firearms in their home, Peković reportedly struck her on the head multiple times with a wooden shovel handle, dragged her by her hair to Mujo’s residence, and then shot them both with an automatic weapon. Their bodies were subsequently incinerated in a fire that Peković ignited in Mujo Šabanović’s house. The indictment further states that in early September 1992, Peković raped a woman who had been granted protected status as a witness. Together with several other uniformed individuals from the “Partizan” sports hall in Foča, he allegedly coerced the protected witness, along with her young daughter and two other individuals with their five children, to an apartment near the then-local police headquarters in Foča. There, under threats, Peković and another man assaulted the protected witness, according to the indictment.

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