Father and son Tonći and Antonio Čukušić have been found guilty of attacking Dalmatinski portal journalist Živana Šušak Živković during a mass at the church in Sirobuja on Easter, April 12, 2020. The father was sentenced to seven months in prison, which was converted to community service. One day of prison is replaced by two hours of community service, reports Dalmatinski portal.
The County Court in Pula rejected the defendants’ appeals and confirmed the first-instance verdict of the Municipal Court in Split. According to the verdict, the primary defendant Tonći Čukušić committed a criminal offense against public order by using force against a person performing public interest tasks or public service, while the secondary defendant Antonio Čukušić, then a young adult, committed two criminal offenses – a criminal offense against public order by using force against a person performing public interest tasks or public service, and a criminal offense against property, specifically damage to someone else’s property.
The father received a seven-month prison sentence, converted to community service with one day of prison replaced by two hours of work.
The son was sentenced to five months of prison for each criminal offense, merged into a single sentence of eight months, also converted to community service. Additionally, he is ordered to compensate the injured journalist with 3,000 kuna (approximately 398.17 euros) for material damages and to cover court costs of 1,000 kuna (approximately 132.72 euros).
It should be noted that on that day the journalist was filming worshippers gathering in the church, although according to epidemiological measures in force to curb the coronavirus pandemic, such gatherings were not allowed. Antonio Čukušić approached her and snatched the phone from her hand, then his father pressed her hand with the church door.
During the trial, multiple videos were shown clearly depicting the perpetrators and the entire attack. The footage also revealed verbal attacks directed at journalists standing outside the church. One video showed the parish priest Josip Delaš insulting them by calling them “devils.”