Today's hearing in the case against the group gathered around former Supreme Court President Vesna Medenica and her son Miloš Medenica began about 45 minutes late, because one of the members of the trial panel was engaged in another trial in the case known as "Florida" in which the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) is charging a 27-member criminal organization with international cocaine trafficking.
The hearing was scheduled for 14 p.m.
After the hearing began, attorneys Stefan Jovanović and Bojan Korać reiterated their opposition to the Special State Prosecutor's Office's (SDT) proposal to introduce as evidence the subsequently submitted Sky communications relating to defendants Miloš Medenica and Darko Lalović. They stated that, according to their claims, there is nothing incriminating in these messages, and that the prosecution is proposing new evidence three years after the indictment was filed.
Vesna Medenica's lawyer, Zdravko Begović, addressed the court, stating that he had to leave the hearing at 15 p.m. due to urgent family obligations. He stated that if his client felt that someone else could represent her, she could so state. Vesna Medenica said that her other defense attorney, Zdenko Tomanović, was not present and that in that case there was no one to represent her interests.
Judge Vesna Kovačević told Begović that he could not leave the hearing, which provoked a reaction from the defense. Begović recalled that it had previously been agreed that the trials would be held every day from 14 to 15 p.m., and stated that, despite this, he would have to leave. Attorney Jovanović then stated that the other defense attorneys would leave the courtroom if Begović could not leave in a show of solidarity.
The judge then concluded today's hearing and scheduled the continuation for tomorrow.
In the dock are Vesna and Miloš Medenica, Darko Lalović, Vasilije Petrović, Bojan and Marko Popović, Milica Vlahović Milosavljević (in separate proceedings), Marko Vučinić, Milorad Medenica, Luka Bakoč, Petar Milutinović, Ivana Kovačević, Radomir Raičević, Marjan Bevenja, Stevo Karanikić and Goran Jovanović, as well as "Kopad Company" DOO Nikšić.
The indictment charges them with creating a criminal organization, smuggling, giving and receiving bribes, unlawful influence and incitement to unlawful influence, abuse of official position, unauthorized production, possession and distribution of narcotic drugs, facilitating drug use, unauthorized possession of weapons and explosives, grievous bodily harm, and obstruction of evidence.
The trial continues tomorrow.
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