The trial of the defendants in the murder of Podgorica residents Danilo Peković and Nemanja Prelević on Veruša on October 17, 2020, for which Beranac Marko Zekić and eight other people are accused, has been postponed in the Podgorica Higher Court.
The delay came after one of the defendants, Vasilije Đukić, did not want to be defended by lawyer Dragoljub Đukanović, who was authorized by Đukić's chosen lawyer, Danilo Mićović. Đukić said that he had not seen Mićović for a year, as the lawyer had not visited him in custody, nor had he appeared at the last few hearings.
The decision on whether to fine Mićović for his absence will be made by the special panel, chaired by Vesna Kovačević, at the next main hearing, which is scheduled for February 14th.
As reported by Vijesti TV yesterday, members of the criminal organization allegedly formed by Zekić could be released in mid-May. This will happen if a first-instance verdict is not reached by then, as the three-year maximum period for their detention is about to expire.
"The start of the trial was delayed, and after that the procedural requirements for holding the main trial were not met. One of the defendants did not accept a replacement for his defense attorney, who was unable to attend the court or the main trial today for justified reasons. The judge stated that what was planned for today will be presented as evidence, or that it will be dealt with at the next main trial or hearing when it is scheduled," said attorney Stefan Jovanović, defense attorney for one of the defendants.
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