Rastoder pleads not guilty, faces up to eight years in prison

In the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo, Semir Rastoder, accused of causing a traffic accident in which Hava Šljivić Dovadžija died, pleaded not guilty at today's hearing, reports the BH News Agency Patria.

According to the indictment, filed by the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office and confirmed by the Cantonal Court on October 28, 2014, Semir Rastoder is accused of fatally hitting pedestrian Hava Šljivić Dovadžija on April 1, 2014, around 9:45 PM while driving a VW Golf VI from Ilidža towards the city center, at the intersection in the Nedžarići settlement. He was driving at a speed of 103 km/h at a pedestrian crossing. The speed limit on that section of the city road is 60 km/h.

The indictment states that the driver "failed to approach the intersection with increased caution appropriate to traffic conditions and pay attention to pedestrians who are on and entering the roadway, so as not to impede the passage of pedestrians who have already entered the pedestrian crossing, and passed through the intersection at an illegal speed, despite being aware that driving the vehicle in this manner could lead to a prohibited consequence, as a result of which he struck pedestrian Šljivić Dovadžija Hava with the front left part of the vehicle. She was crossing the Bulevar Meše Selimovića roadway at a marked pedestrian crossing against a red traffic light, from left to right as viewed from the direction of the motor vehicle's travel."

The indictment states that the pedestrian was crossing against a red light for pedestrians, but does not specify which traffic light was illuminated at the moment the vehicle passed through the intersection where the incident occurred.

Furthermore, the indictment lists the injuries sustained by the pedestrian who died at the scene. Multiple fractures, numerous contusions, and internal bleeding caused by the impact of the vehicle at a speed of 103 km/h resulted in the pedestrian's death in a very short period.

The prosecutor qualified the accident as a serious criminal offense against public traffic safety, for which the prescribed penalty is imprisonment from one to eight years.

Accused Semir Rastoder will enter his plea before judge Husein Delalić on Friday. If he admits to the charges against him, there will be no trial, and a verdict will be rendered without the right to appeal. If, however, he pleads not guilty, the trial will continue with the evidentiary proceedings, where the prosecution and defense will present their evidence.

Hava Dovadžija is survived by her husband Amar and two minor daughters, aged five years and one year.