Krunić Murder: Car Footage Leads to Killers

 SARAJEVO, (Patria) - In the continuation of the trial in the case of the murder of businessman Slaviša Krunić (48) and his escort Žarko Pavlović (38), the Republican Prosecutor's Office presented black and white footage in the courtroom, claiming it shows a red Opel Corsa moving through Svetosavska Street in Trn several hours before the murder on April 22, 2019.

According to the prosecution's theory, the red Corsa was driven by Željko Kovačević, who was killed during an exchange of fire on the night of the attack and identified as one of the assailants. On trial in this case are Benedi Đukanović, Emilio Baldo, and Rodoljub Gajić, a former employee of "Sektor Sekjuriti".

Yesterday, several more recordings were shown at the Banja Luka District Court, which, according to the prosecution, show a white Golf and a black and red Opel Corsa driven by the defendants. The prosecution's earlier claims are that the Golf was driven by the defendant Đukanović, and the Corsas by the defendant Baldo.

The presentation of the video footage provoked a strong reaction from the defense, which claimed that it could not be determined with certainty which vehicles were involved, while the defendant Đukanović also questioned how a red color could be identified on black and white footage.

Footage from video surveillance near the "Moreti" pizzeria was also shown. It shows a Toyota arriving and departing, in which, according to the prosecution, Krunić was. Prosecutor Snježana Petković claims that the footage from that surveillance also shows a red Opel Corsa passing by about an hour earlier.

The defendant Đukanović objected that some of the footage did not show the cars claimed by the prosecution and questioned how the red color could be seen.

To this, prosecutor Snježana Petković replied that it cannot be seen because the footage is black and white, but they assert it based on other evidence.

When asked by Branimir Jukić, the presiding judge, how the prosecution uses the footage to prove that these were precisely the vehicles driven by the defendants, Petković stated that they do not claim they are precisely those vehicles, but that they could be.

"Through other evidence, we will establish that these were the vehicles used by the defendants," said Petković.

The defense even requested that the aforementioned footage not be shown, arguing that there are about 140 hours of recorded material, and the lawyers and defendants had only three days to view it and were unable to do so.

Nevertheless, the Court allowed the prosecution to show the selected parts of the footage. We remind you that Krunić and Pavlović were killed near Krunić's house in Glamočani, near Laktaši. The driver Ilić was wounded at the time, and Kovačević, identified as the attacker, was killed in the exchange of fire.

Đukanović and Baldo are accused of organizing and preparing the crime with Kovačević. Gajić is accused of aiding the murder because he provided Kovačević with information about Krunić's movements in exchange for forgiveness of debt.