Lawyer Miloš Vuksanović, who represents "Pobjeda" journalist Ana Raičković, said in his closing arguments at today's hearing that he would not propose a sentence for businessman Zoran Ćoć Bećirović's attack on Raičković, but that he believes that people like him, who are powerful and influential in society, should be punished more severely in order to send a clear message.
This case is being heard before the Podgorica Basic Court on suspicion that in November the accused Bećirović, with his son Luka, Mladen Mijatović, and Ljubiša Dukić, attacked a journalist from "Pobjeda".
State Prosecutor Romina Vlahović said in her closing arguments that it had been established beyond doubt that Zoran Bećirović, his son Luka Bećirović, Mladen Mijatović and Ljubiša Dukić committed the criminal offense they are charged with, and she proposed extending the detention of Bećirović and Mijatović.
She said she is seeking a sentence of one and a half years for Bećirović, his son Luka, and Mijatović.
Vlahović requested a two and a half year prison sentence for Ljubiša Dukić because he had a previous conviction.
Vuksanović: Dukić's role is humane and humane
Lawyer Raickovic, Vuksanovic, opposed Vlahovic's proposal in the part concerning Dukic, because, as he said, he believes that Dukic did not commit the criminal offense he is charged with.
"Ljubiša Dukić's role was not unimportant, but very important, because if he had not been there, I think the consequences of this event would have been much greater, and his role was humane and humane," said Vuksanović.
He said that Raičković was attacked "precisely because she is a journalist and it is completely clear what Bećirović's motive was to do something like that."
Vuksanović said that he would not propose a punishment, but that he believes that people like Bećirović, who are powerful and influential in society, should be punished more severely in order to send a clear message about why someone is being punished.
Defense attorney Danilo Mićović said he thanked his colleague Vuksanović for his stance towards Dukić, but that he believed it was a "procedural trick."
"If Raičković had not parked and waited for reinforcements, none of this would have happened. I think this is a classic case of changing the facts. The defense believes that the actions of our defendants do not contain elements of the criminal offense they are charged with," said Mićović.
According to him, Raičković's statements are contradictory.
"I believe that she committed the criminal offense of giving a false statement and the criminal offense of unauthorized filming," Mićović said at today's hearing.
That lawyer referred to details from Ana Raičković's medical records.
"No one hit her, attacked her, pulled her hair, or strangled her. Raickovic gave contradictory statements in order to discredit her son Urosha Gagovic," said Micovic.
According to him, the qualification of violent behavior cannot survive.
Possibly, as he said, we can talk about a violation of public order and peace on both sides.
Mićović also said that Račković's son, Uroš Gagović, "was the only one who committed violence and that his mother incited him to do so."
At the end of his presentation, he said that the incident in question was a combination of unfortunate circumstances and had nothing to do with the profession that Raičković is engaged in.
The defendants' defense attorney, Marta Šćepanović, said that unfair proceedings were being conducted against her clients.
"There is no group, nor did Raičković suffer minor physical injuries, so we cannot speak of a criminal offense of violent behavior," said Šćepanović.
She pointed out that it was not her clients who disturbed public order and peace, and endangered the peace of citizens, but Gagović, by striking Mladen Mijatović seven times.
Bećirović: Raičković is the first among equals
Zoran Bećirović accepted the closing arguments of his clients.
"As someone who has been denounced and pre-judged, fully aware of the Montenegrin reality and the historical importance of this case and that the prosecution is afraid of the media, I want my words to remain written down," said Zoran Bećirović.
He said that the prosecution and the court are acting selectively, and that Raickovic is the first among equals.
Bećirović said that in order to satisfy a section of the media, acting prosecutor Romina Vlahović wrote an indictment even though she did not obtain all the evidence.
"Although both the police and the state prosecutor's office had access to the video, no one took any action due to Gagović's attack on Mijatović," the businessman said.
Bećirović emphasized that he wanted to point out the lack of credibility of the witness, as well as the many contradictions in the testimony given before the prosecutor, and later before the court when Raičković, her fiancé Tomo Arapović, and her son Gagović testified.
Bećirović said that he is also a media worker, and that journalists must use the truth.
"I am a competitor to the media in Montenegro, especially the media outlet from which Ana Raičković comes," said Bećirović, who owns the "Aktuelno" portal.
He pointed out that Raickovic was using the entire event only for his own personal self-promotion.
"Ana Raickovic does not respect the laws of Montenegro - how can she respect the principles of the journalistic profession," he said.
"I, a law graduate, and my son, a mining engineer, are witnesses to the brutal attack on Mladen Mijatović, which was organized by trade technician Ana Raičković and her boxer son Uroš Gagović," said Bećirović.
Defendants Mladen Mijatović, Luka Bećirović and Ljubiša Dukić accepted the closing arguments of their defense attorneys and did not add anything, and judge Ilija Radulović announced the verdict for April 24th.
Bonus video:
