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Prosecutor: Agreement possible in Milić case before trial

Prosecutor: Agreement possible in Milić case before trial

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Former prosecutor Jasmina Paunović commented on the indictment against Veselin Milić, stating that an agreement with the accused is possible before the main trial begins.
  • The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade indicted Milić for failing to report a crime and falsifying official documents.
  • Paunović suggested that Milić's case might be separated to allow the Higher Court to declare itself not competent, potentially shifting the jurisdiction to a lower court.

Retired prosecutor Jasmina Paunović has offered insights into the indictment against Veselin Milić, suggesting that a plea agreement could be reached before the main trial commences. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade has formally charged Milić with two offenses: failure to report a crime and falsifying official documents.

all until the main hearing is scheduled according to the indictment, an opportunity can be concluded with the accused.

— Jasmina PaunovićRetired prosecutor Jasmina Paunović explains the legal possibility of reaching an agreement with the accused before the trial begins.

Paunović explained that as long as a main trial date has not been set, the possibility of reaching an agreement with the accused remains open. She noted that the indictment against Milić appears to have been separated from that of other co-defendants, a move she believes might be strategic.

It seems to me that only an act separated from the indictment was submitted to the Higher Court so that the Higher Court would declare itself not competent.

— Jasmina PaunovićPaunović speculates on the strategic separation of Veselin Milić's case from other defendants.

"It seems to me that only an act separated from the indictment was submitted to the Higher Court so that the Higher Court would declare itself not competent," Paunović stated. She anticipates that the Higher Court may rule it lacks jurisdiction over the case, given the nature of the charges, and refer it to a basic court.

Because the Higher Court in Belgrade does not decide on that type of criminal offense, those are under the jurisdiction of the basic prosecutor's office, i.e. the basic court, it should be expected that the Higher Court will declare itself so by making a decision that it is not competent.

— Jasmina PaunovićPaunović elaborates on why she believes the Higher Court might deem itself not competent to hear Milić's case.

This potential jurisdictional shift could impact the proceedings. Paunović also pointed out that Milić has seemingly been in a more privileged position compared to other defendants from the outset, with his charges undergoing reclassification. The indictment against Saša Vuković for murder and illegal weapons possession, and findings from a medical commission indicating Aleksandar Nešović was shot multiple times, were also mentioned in the context of the ongoing legal scrutiny.

which would determine the manner, place and all characteristics of the gunshot wounds inflicted on the victim, the deceased, in order to determine exactly at what moment the victim died, whether there was a moment when he was alive at all, all this indicates to us what we have heard, that he was inflicted more than 10 gunshot wounds directly in very short intervals, this can be qualified as aggravated murder in a treacherous manner, especially since the victim did not defend himself, he did not have the conditions for something like that.

— Jasmina PaunovićPaunović discusses the details of the murder of Aleksandar Nešović, based on expert findings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.