Cantonal Court in Tuzla: Salim Kovačević sentenced to one year in prison for causing death by negligence

(Patria) - The Cantonal Court in Tuzla today rendered and publicly announced a non-final verdict in the first-instance criminal proceedings against Salim Kovačević.

Kovačević was found guilty of the criminal offense of Causing Death by Negligence under Article 168 of the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was sentenced to one year in prison.

The accused was found guilty of, on January 11, 2025, around 2 AM, after a verbal altercation with S.S. in a catering establishment in Gračanica, in the village of Miričina, in the parking lot in front of the establishment, where S.S. had previously been physically involved in a conflict with several guests of the said establishment who had inflicted minor bodily injuries on the victim, Kovačević, although not aware of the possibility of causing the victim's death, but given all circumstances, he was obliged and could have been aware of this possibility, delivered one knee strike to the victim's abdomen. Following this, both fell to the ground, during which S.S. hit the asphalt-concrete surface with the back of his head, sustaining a severe and life-threatening bodily injury, from which he died on January 15, 2025, at the University Clinical Center Tuzla.

The time spent in custody from January 17, 2025, to October 28, 2025, shall be credited towards the imposed prison sentence.

The court ordered the accused to pay monetary amounts of 30,000 KM each to four family members of the victim for non-material damages due to mental anguish caused by the death of a close relative, within thirty days from the date the verdict becomes final, under threat of forced execution.