The Court of Appeals upheld the verdict of the Higher Court: Aleksić was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the murder of Lakušić and illegal possession of weapons.

The Court of Appeal confirmed the verdict of the Higher Court in Podgorica of February 21 this year, which sentenced Goran Aleksić to 15 years in prison for the murder of Dejan Lakušić on December 25, 2021 and illegal possession of weapons.

The Court of Appeal announced today that after the panel session on October 1, the court issued a verdict rejecting as unfounded the appeals of the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica and the defense attorney of the accused Aleksić filed against the verdict of the Higher Court in Podgorica K. No. 46/22 of February 21, 2025.

"By the verdict of the Higher Court in Podgorica, the accused Goran Aleksić was found guilty of the criminal offense of murder in conjunction with the criminal offense of illegal possession of weapons and explosives and was sentenced to a single prison sentence of 15 years, which included the time he was deprived of his liberty and the time spent in detention. The appeal against the first-instance verdict was filed by the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica and the defense attorney of the accused. The Court of Appeal found the appeals unfounded. According to the Court of Appeal, the reasons for the first-instance verdict correspond to the factual findings and conclusions reached by the first-instance court by evaluating the presented evidence and the defense of the accused Goran Aleksić. Also, the first-instance court gave clear, comprehensive and acceptable reasons for all decisive facts that are in full accordance with the evidence presented at the main trial, which led it to find the accused Goran Aleksić guilty and convict him of the criminal offense of murder, and not of the criminal offense of aggravated murder for selfish gain for which he was was indicted," the statement said.

The Court of Appeal added that the court examined the contested verdict in the part of the decision on the sentence, and assessed that the first instance court correctly determined and sufficiently evaluated all circumstances that influence the choice of criminal sanction and that are important for the sentence to be higher or lower.

"In the opinion of the Court of Appeal, the imposed prison sentence represents an adequate punishment for the gravity of the criminal offense and the degree of guilt of the accused, so it is expected that it will achieve the purpose of punishment within the general purpose of imposing criminal sanctions. The judgment of the Court of Appeal of Montenegro Kž.br. 112/25 of 01.10.2025. will be published on the website of the Court of Appeal of Montenegro," the statement reads.