Special Prosecutor Miroslav Turković today, in his closing arguments at the trial of the defendants for the murders of Nemanja Prelević and Danilo Peković in Veruša on October 17, 2020, asked the court to sentence them to 293 years in prison.
He said in the Podgorica Higher Court, before the special panel of judge Vesna Kovačević, that the Sky communication between the defendants is key evidence that Marko Zekić was one of the perpetrators of the murder and that he, together with another unidentified person, created a criminal organization.
"This encrypted protection of mutual communication was suitable for planning, in the belief that they would remain undetected. The Sky communication was accepted as evidence by the Court of Appeal of Montenegro in a verdict, and represents legally valid evidence. It has been unequivocally proven that the defendants committed criminal offenses and I propose that the court impose prison sentences on them. The defendants denied any form of criminal plan in their defenses. When the material evidence is linked to the content of the Sky ecc communications, the only possible conclusion is that they committed criminal offenses. It has been established beyond doubt that the defendants used protected encrypted communication. From this content it follows that Marko Zekić and an unknown person created a criminal organization and that they had a plan to take people's lives and smuggle drugs. Zekić gave instructions, procured weapons, gave tasks and false alibis," said Turković.
He also said that Zekić made the decision to carry out the murder on Veruša.
"A number of criminal acts were committed, including extortion and the sale of narcotics. It is clear that they planned to extort 100.000 euros from businessmen in Berane, as they stated, in order to "recover" the criminal organization. The plan was also to sell drugs. Zekić participated as the direct perpetrator of the murder in Veruša, where shell casings from two types of weapons of different calibers were found. Two people fired from a pistol and an automatic rifle. The main fuse on the electricity supply to Nemanja Prelević's house was turned off, which cut off the electricity supply. This is stated in Marko Zekić's correspondence. When Prelević came out, they killed him on the doorstep of the house, shooting him in the head. All this was established from Sky Communications. In addition to this, Zekić also planned murders in Serbia for Dragan Tarić."
Turković also said that he was particularly pointing out the aggravating circumstances when determining the sentence, namely that they had previous convictions. He also said that the motive for the murder of Prelević and Peković was ruthless revenge for an argument and fight in the "Garden" restaurant.
"I propose that Marko Zekić be sentenced to a sentence of no less than 401 years in prison for the criminal offense of creating a criminal organization under Article 1a paragraph 6 in conjunction with Article 10 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. For the criminal offense of aggravated murder under Article 144 point 8 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro in conjunction with Article 23 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro, I propose a long-term prison sentence of 40 years, for the attempted aggravated murder of Sujković Kenana and Ismet on November 18.11.2021, 22,00 at around 30:40 p.m. on Svetog Save Street in Berane, a prison sentence of no less than 30 years in prison. For the defendant Miomir Đukić for the criminal offenses of being a member of a criminal organization, aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder, I propose prison sentences of no less than five years, 40 years and no less than 35 years in prison. For the defendant Mirčeta Mihailović, I propose sentences for the criminal offenses of being a member of a criminal organization and aggravated murder, sentences of no less than five and XNUMX years in prison. For membership in a criminal organization "For the defendants Goran Milašinović, Dragan Biletić, Branislav Ivanović, Nenad Milačić, Vasilije Đukić and Dragan Tarić, I propose sentences of no less than five years in prison. For the defendants Milašinović, Biletić, Ivanović, Milačić and Vasilije Đukić, accused of the criminal offence of aggravated murder committed by aiding and abetting, I propose sentences of no less than XNUMX years in prison. For Zlatko Drašković, accused of money laundering, I propose a prison sentence of no less than three years," Turković said.
He then proposed to the court that the court impose uniform prison sentences on them for all criminal offenses.
"For all criminal offenses, I propose that the court sentence the defendant Marko Zekić to a single sentence of no less than 40 years in prison. For the defendants Miomir Đukić and Mirčeta Mihailović, I propose that the court sentence them to 40 years in prison each. For the defendants Goran Milašinović, Dragan Biletić, Branislav Ivanović, Nenad Milačić and Vasilije Đukić, I propose that the court sentence them to 35 years in prison each for all criminal offenses, while for Dragan Tarić, I propose a sentence of no less than five years in prison," said Turković.
Lawyer Bojana Franović Kovačević appealed to the prosecutor to not charge the defendants with extortion and drug trafficking in the indictment.
Lawyers Stefan Jovanović, Miloš Vukasnović and Dragoljub Đukanović asked the court to continue the defense's closing arguments on Monday, April 28th.
Judge Vesna Kovačević accepted the defense's proposal.
According to the evidence collected, on October 17, 2020, Marko Zekić, Vasilije Đukić, and Mihailović together killed Prelević and Peković in the town of Uvač, with intent and by prior agreement.
Milašinović, Biletić, Ivanović and Miličić assisted in the serious murder of two Podgorica residents by deliberately creating conditions and removing obstacles. The task of part of the group was to monitor the movement of Prelević and Peković in order to determine the most favorable place and time for their liquidation.
"After they found out that the targets would be in Prelević's house in the town of Uvač on October 17, they communicated that information to Zekić, Đukić and Mirčeta Mihailović, who went to Veruša," the indictment reads.
It is added that Mirčeta Mihailović handed over an automatic rifle and a pistol to Zekić and Đukić, who, after a brief discussion at the door of the cottage, killed Prelević by firing several projectiles into his head and upper body. After killing Prelević, they entered the cottage and killed Peković.
Transcripts of the Sky app used by members of this criminal organization revealed that the murder of Prelević and Peković had been planned several months in advance. Marko Zekić from Berane physically clashed with Nemanja Prelević in a pub in Podgorica, after which he decided to kill him, and informed other members of the criminal organization he founded about it, the indictment states, among other things.
In the explanation of the indictment, it is written that, according to evidence from France, Zekić informed the other defendants about the conflict he had in a Podgorica bar, through the Sky application, and told them that he had made the decision to kill Prelevic.
"From further communications from August 05.08.2020, XNUMX, Zekić announces that he made the decision to take the life of Nemanja Prelevic precisely because of the fight he had with him and with Vladimir Bajčeta and Marinka Banović in the restaurant. In those messages, Zekić states that he is with had a gun that he had left and at the same time inquires with other defendants where Prelevic lives, what vehicle he drives, and where his house is located, i.e. what is the street where the victim's house is located," the indictment explains.
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