Trial Begins for Police Officers' Murder: Macan Claims He Didn't Shoot, Encrypted Sky Phone Found

(Patria) - The trial of Savo Marinković, Aleksandar Macan, and Marko Trifković, accused of the murder of Sarajevo Canton (KS) MUP officers Adis Šehović and Davor Vujinović in 2018, began today at the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo.

Prosecutor Aida Topalović read the indictment, after which the accused again pleaded not guilty.

- The prosecution will present evidence of the commission of the criminal offense through this procedure - stated the prosecutor.

She stated that a few days before the murder, the accused stole a "seat" car, which they used for several days to come to the Sarajevo Canton area to steal cars. She further stated that with the same vehicle on the fatal night when the police officers were killed, they arrived in the Novi Grad Sarajevo municipality area where they stole a "golf 6" car, when they were encountered by two members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of KS, during which the three accused opened fire on the police officers who were in the car.

She emphasized that the police officers did not have the opportunity to use the weapons they had with them.

The indictment states that an encrypted phone with the Sky application was also found in the "seat" car.

Witnesses will also be heard through this evidentiary procedure, including eyewitnesses to the event itself, i.e., some residents of the surrounding buildings.

The defense attorney for Aleksandar Macan, Duško Tomić, believes that his client is a victim in this procedure, reports Faktor.

- It is not difficult to defend oneself with the truth. The families of the murdered should not be misled for a second time. My client is a hero to me because he voluntarily came and surrendered so that this case could be put to an end. The truth cannot be hidden - said Tomić.

He said that some defend themselves by silence, and others by truth.

- The indictment states that my client fired a pistol, and there is no trace of a pistol bullet except for two live bullets at the scene. How did they get there? That is a dilemma we want to discuss. My client did not shoot - said Tomić.

He believes it is not logical to "go to steal cars with a rifle".

- Yes, my client went to steal cars, but he did not go to shoot police officers and he did not shoot at them. I personally think that the first accused knows why the police officers were shot at - said Tomić.

Aleksandar Macan also briefly addressed the court.

- I came here to tell the truth - he said.

Macan was the only one of the accused in the courtroom who agreed to be photographed by the media, while Trifković and Marinković refused.

The accused in this case are charged with firing at least 20 shots at Šehović and Vujinović, who were in a service vehicle, on October 26, 2018, at 4:20 AM in the Alipašino Polje neighborhood of Sarajevo, after police officers caught them stealing a "golf" vehicle in Geteova Street.

Adis Šehović died at the scene from his injuries, while Davor Vujinović, who was seriously wounded, succumbed to his injuries several hours after that tragic event.

The KS Prosecutor's Office, after a four-year complex investigation in this case, filed an indictment which was confirmed at the end of last year.

The trial will continue on February 13.