The trial of the accused for the wounding of journalist Olivera Lakić and the murder of Miodrag-Migi Kruščić has been postponed for the fourth time at the High Court in Podgorica.
As in the previous instance, the trial was delayed because attorney Stefan Jokić, who represents one of the defendants, Goran Vukčević, did not appear in court due to an ongoing strike by lawyers in Serbia.
In a letter to the court, Jokić stated that the Serbian Bar Association had suspended work for 30 days based on a decision made by its Assembly on February 2. This decision established that, during the suspension, lawyers would only submit appeals and lawsuits to courts, prosecutors, and other authorities in cases where missing deadlines could result in the loss of certain rights.
Lawyers in Serbia are striking in support of students and their demands, as well as due to concerns over threats to the independence and autonomy of the legal profession.
Additionally, the Bar Association of Montenegro has committed to refraining from appearing before courts and other state institutions, notaries, and public bailiffs in Serbia during the suspension period. They also pledged not to act on behalf of their Serbian colleagues before Montenegrin courts.
Judge Igor Đuričković fined Jokić 1.000 euros and ordered him to cover the costs of the postponed hearing. However, Jokić was not fined today for his absence.
The judge warned the defendant Vukčević that the next hearing would proceed even if his defense attorney was not present.
As previously reported by the Libertass portal, the indictment, filed by the Special State Prosecutor’s Office on December 7, 2023, includes high-ranking members of the Kavac criminal clan: Milan Vujotić, former police officer Darko Lalović, Filip Knežević, Mario Milošević, Goran Rakočević, Veselin Bubanja, Filip Bešović, Luka Bulatović, Dejan Vukašinović, Branislav Karadžić, Goran Vukčević, Mijajlo Stojanović, Aleksandar Ljumović, and Sanja Božović.
Filip Knežević, who is currently on the run, has been accused of shooting Olivera Lakić on May 8, 2018, in front of her apartment building in Podgorica. She sustained a gunshot wound to her leg.
Mario Milošević has been identified as the direct perpetrator of the murder of Miodrag Kruščić, who was shot dead on May 21, 2018, while sitting in a café in Podgorica.
Additionally, according to Special Prosecutor Vukas Radonjić, the accused are also charged with smuggling 554 kilograms of marijuana from Albania to Montenegro on January 26, 2021.