Almir Mandic was repeatedly questioned on the circumstances of the murder of Dusko Jovanovic, but he refused to testify at his brother’s trial citing the legal possibility to refuse to give testimony as a blood relative of the accused.
According to information of Dan daily, Almir Mandic was questioned about the night of the murder as well as the movement of his brother Damir. It is known to the public that the forensic team from Wiesbaden found traces of gunpowder on Almir Mandic’s sweatshirt, a day after the arrest of his brother.
Almir Mandic was also seen at the scene of the crime shortly after the editor’s murder.
The prosecution said Almir Mandic was for now just questioned as a citizen, but left the possibility of processing him further. Prosecutors questioned several individuals indicated in potential witness’s statement.
Potential protected witness previously contacted the President of the Commission to monitor the investigation of attacks on journalists, Nikola Markovic, who recently told the media the witness was questioned by the investigating authorities in a foreign country because he fears for his and the safety of his family, should he come to Montenegro.
Markovic said editor of Vijesti daily Mihailo Jovovic, also a member of the Commission, spoke with the witness who claims to have information about the crime, of which they informed the prosecutor’s office.
Montenegrin prosecutors did not yet have the chance to question the potential protected witness themselves, but they started checking his allegations.
Damir Mandic is the only person so far accused of complicity in the murder of the owner and editor of Dan. He was tried twice, because the first judgment of Judge Radovan Mandic acquitted him. The Court of Appeals canceled the ruling, after which the Council of judge Lazar Akovic sentenced Mandic to 30 years in prison in April 2009.
The reasoning of the judgment stated Damir Mandic as a co-perpetrator intentionally committed the criminal offense of attempted aggravated murder and that his guilt has been unequivocally established. The judgment proceeded to explain that both evidence presented and allegations of the defendant prove he executed prior arrangements with as yet unknown individuals, to commit the acts he is being charged with. Forensic testing determined that prints on the gun, with a probability of 40 million times to one, belong to the accused Damir Mandic.
On appeal, his sentence was reduced to 18 years in prison, but then the verdict was revoked in late July 2014, and Mandic is once again on trial. At the new trial on July 22, German experts from Wiesbaden will testify.
