Court Denies Motion to Exclude Witness Testimonies in Lakic Case

A court in Podgorica has rejected a request from defense attorney Marko Radovic to exclude witness testimonies from the ongoing trial concerning the 2018 assault on former journalist Olivera Lakic. The testimonies in question were provided by Lakic herself and Milorad Zizic, who previously headed the Department for the Suppression of Serious Crimes.

Judge Radovan Vlaovic clarified that, under current legal provisions, it was unnecessary to transcribe the contents of a CD containing recorded statements. He emphasized that a formal record of the hearing had already been made, thus fulfilling legal requirements.

The trial, which also addresses the murder of Miodrag Kruscic that occurred shortly after Lakic’s assault, continued with the examination of witnesses. On December 18, 2023, the court will hear additional testimonies, including that of Zizic.

During the proceedings, witness Ivan Vlaovic recounted being in a restaurant on the night of Lakic’s shooting. He described hearing a sound resembling a firecracker and observed a figure he estimated to be no taller than 170 centimeters fleeing the scene toward the Alpe Bar area.

Another witness, Milonja Djurovic, confirmed that he had rented an apartment to the accused, Goran Rakocjevic, beginning in January 2017. Rakocjevic acknowledged this arrangement during his own testimony.

Further testimonies were provided by Mladen Perovic, who discussed renting an apartment to the accused Luka Bulatovic. Perovic noted that Bulatovic expressed his desire to live independently with a girlfriend and consistently paid his rent.

The court also heard from police officer Goran Tripunovic, who described an encounter with the deceased Filip Knezevic while he was in a taxi. Tripunovic noted that Knezevic presented his passport and carried a small travel bag.

Additionally, witnesses Nikola Vojvodic and Nikola Radoševic provided information regarding various rental agreements linked to the accused, including an apartment rented to a woman named Sanja Bozovic.

The prosecution, led by the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, has charged a group of individuals, including Milan Vujotic and others, with multiple serious crimes. These charges include the assault on Lakic and the murder of Kruscic, alongside the trafficking of 554 kilograms of marijuana from Albania to Montenegro on January 26, 2021.

The case is significant not only for its implications concerning violence against journalists but also for highlighting broader issues of organized crime in the region. As the trial progresses, the testimonies provided by witnesses will play a critical role in determining the outcomes for those accused. The next hearing is set for December 18, where further witness statements are anticipated.