05. 04. 2008

BELGRADE DISTRICT COURT AWAITS ADDITIONAL FINDINGS IN THE MURDER CASE OF JOURNALIST DADA VUJASINOVIC

Belgrade, April 5, 2008 (Danas) – After receiving supplementary forensic findings from ballistics experts, the Office of the District Public Prosecutor in Belgrade will most probably change the categorization of the death of the "Duga" journalist Dada Vujasinovic and classify it as murder instead of suicide, due to new evidence, Danas has found out.

Our source points out that, although the additional investigation in the case of Duga journalist was predominantly based on the fact that traces of blood of two different blood types were found, the investigators have discovered new evidence which "directly indicates murder was committed".

Our source from judicial institutions claims that, after 14 years since the death, "there is finally a serious investigation in the case", and reminds that the case was obstructed several times. Among other things, one of the expert findings was held for five years by the then investigative judge of the District Court and was not delivered to the prosecutor's office, which led to other expert opinions being delayed.

Danas's source expects the fact that two blood types were found to be clarified soon. Incidentally, these blood traces were the main reason for the family's suspicion about the official version that the death was suicide. The traces were found at the back of the chair and under it.

As was previously explained to our journalists in the Office of the District Public Prosecutor, one of the problems was the long period of time that has passed since the death of the journalist and it was uncertain whether an analysis today would  successfully determine if the floor stains are indeed blood, and succeed in extracting the material for DNA testing.

Court expert, Mirjana Stajner, determined that the blood stain of fingers at the right lateral side of the armchair, where Dada Vujasinovic bled, belonged to the blood type A, as was the case with the blood that was dripping at the right armrest of the chair. However, blood under the chair and on the seat belongs to the blood type 0, i.e. belonged to Dada Vujasinovic. It was also established that her body was moved.

- Additional ballistic investigation in the case of the Duga journalist has not been completed yet. The case is still being investigated, and the court regularly receives information about the process, we have learned from the Belgrade District Court.

In the case of Dada Vujasinovic, several medical-ballistic surveys were performed, the last one in the March of the last year by the Institute of Forensic Medicine from Novi Sad after request by the Belgrade District Court. The Institute of Forensic Medicine has replied last year to the District Court that it was unable to give expert opinion in the case. After that, the District Court forwarded the case to a new ballistics expert. The law does not specify the longest allowed period for the experts to send their opinion to the court and the prosecutor's office.

In 1994, the family of Dada Vujasinovic delivered to the Office of the District Public Prosecutor a report made by the forensic medicine expert Rastislav Lazarevic and the ballistics expert Zoran Jovanovic, according to which she could not possibly inflict such wounds on herself. Near the end of the last year, the investigative judge heard the testimony of Dada Vujasinovic's father, which was the first time he was called to testify since her death.

Dada Vujasinovic was found dead on April 8, 1994 in her appartment in New Belgrade's Third Boulevard. Her death was officially categorized as suicide.