The trial of the group charged with the double murder in Veruša is ongoing. A new ex officio defense attorney, Vukoman Golubović, has been appointed following the cancellation of the power of attorney by his predecessor Dragana Vojinović, a move that was formally acknowledged by the High Court.

President of the court, Zoran Radovic, designated a “reserve” defense attorney for all defendants, despite them having chosen their own lawyers, igniting fury among the attorneys involved.

The Podgorica Higher Court mentioned that the decision was aimed at preventing obstructions that lead to delays in the proceedings, while several lawyers voiced concerns, labeling it as an illegal act.

During the court session yesterday, Golubović expressed that he had filed a submission indicating that he could not serve as an ex officio defense attorney.

He emphasized that he could only represent two or three defendants, citing the case’s complexity as a reason for requiring about a month to prepare an adequate defense.

The defense attorneys requested the court to submit the minutes from the primary hearing on April 2 to the appropriate state prosecutor’s office to ascertain whether there was a criminal offense concerning the ex officio assignment of a defense attorney.

They highlighted that Special Prosecutor Miroslav Turković had made similar requests regarding attorney Dragana Vojinović.

At the two primary trial hearings on March 12 and 19, attorney Vojinović, appointed as an ex officio defense attorney for all defendants by a March 10 ruling from the High Court, attended the trials. Nonetheless, she left the courtroom both times, citing discomfort in representing the defendants under the circumstances.

Previously, she had been appointed as the ex officio defense attorney for defendant Miomir Đukić, who had revoked the powers of three earlier appointed attorneys.

The trial concerning the murders of Nemanja Prelević (28) and Danilo Peković (20) in Veruša on October 17, 2020, where Marko Zekić and eight others are implicated, resumed yesterday in the Higher Court in Podgorica.

During the evidentiary procedures, messages exchanged between the defendants via Sky applications were reviewed.

At the main trial hearing, attorney Golubović was present, appointed by the Higher Court for all defendants despite their chosen attorneys. He reiterated to the court that he had submitted a request stating that he couldn’t serve as an ex officio defense attorney for everyone. He again mentioned the need for about a month to prepare a defense due to the intricacies involved in the case.

The defense urged the court to forward the minutes from the April 2 hearing to the competent state prosecutor’s office to assess possible criminal misconduct in this appointment method, referencing the earlier request by Special Prosecutor Turković regarding attorney Dragana Vojinović.

Vojinović attended the two main trial hearings on March 12 and 19, having been appointed as ex officio defense attorney for all defendants on March 10. She had previously been designated the ex officio defense attorney for Miomir Đukić since November last year, after he rescinded powers from three previously appointed attorneys.

Following these developments, attorney Vojinović canceled her power of attorney in writing, leading to the High Court dismissing her. Subsequently, attorney Golubović was appointed as the new ex officio defense attorney.

The High Court recently clarified its decision to “Vijesti”:

“Indeed, the Higher Court in Podgorica has authorized the appointment of a defense lawyer ex officio in circumstances of power of attorney cancellation by defense lawyers or unjustified absence, as stipulated by Article 318 of the CPC. This action intends to prevent delays in the criminal proceedings that could hinder the issuance of a verdict. It complies with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which ensures a fair trial within a reasonable timeframe. Similar provisions exist in the laws of Serbia and Spain, and a comparable ruling was previously enacted by the Higher Court in Podgorica,” commented independent public relations advisor Ivana Vukmirović.

Decision to End Lives

The Special State Prosecutor’s Office has initiated an indictment against an eight-member criminal organization allegedly led by the fugitive Marko Zekić. The defendants include Miomir Đukić, Dragan Biletić, Vasilije Đukić, Mirčeta Mihailović, Nenad Miličić, Goran Milašinović, Branislav Ivanović, and Dragan Tarić.

According to the evidence gathered, on October 17, 2020, Marko Zekić, Vasilije Đukić, and Mihailović conspired to murder Nemanja Prelević and Danilo Peković in the town of Uvač with premeditated intent.

Milašinović, Biletić, Ivanović, and Miličić allegedly facilitated the murders by setting up the conditions for the act. Part of their duties involved monitoring Prelević and Peković to find the ideal time and place for their assassination.

“Upon discovering the targets would be at Prelević’s residence in Uvač on October 17, they relayed this information to Zekić, Đukić, and Mihailović, who proceeded towards Veruša,” the indictment outlines. It further mentions that Mihailović supplied Zekić and Đukić with an automatic rifle and a pistol, which they used to fatally shoot Prelević after an altercation at the cottage door. After Prelević was killed, they entered the cottage and murdered Peković. Transcripts from the Sky app utilized by members of this criminal group indicate that the murders were meticulously planned over several months.

Marko Zekić, based in Berane, previously engaged in a physical altercation with Nemanja Prelević in a Podgorica pub, prompting his decision to kill Prelević. He communicated this intent to other members of his organization, according to the indictment.

The indictment’s explanation reveals that, based on evidence from France, Zekić informed the other defendants about the conflict he had via the Sky app, declaring his intention to kill Prelević.

“In subsequent communications from August 5, 2020, Zekić articulated his determination to take Prelević’s life due to their earlier confrontation in a bar, asking other defendants about Prelević’s residence, vehicle, and location,” the indictment continues.

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