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Twelve guilty of Djindjic murder | Twelve guilty of Djindjic murder |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Serbian court has found 12 men guilty of the 2003 assassination of the pro-Western Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic in Belgrade. | A Serbian court has found 12 men guilty of the 2003 assassination of the pro-Western Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic in Belgrade. |
All the defendants, who include members of the secret police and alleged mafia kingpins, had denied the charges. | All the defendants, who include members of the secret police and alleged mafia kingpins, had denied the charges. |
Two former policemen - Milorad "Legija" Ulemek, 39 and Zvezdan Jovanovic, 41 - received 40-year jail terms. | Two former policemen - Milorad "Legija" Ulemek, 39 and Zvezdan Jovanovic, 41 - received 40-year jail terms. |
The prosecution argued Djindjic was killed to block his reforms, including the extradition of war crimes suspects. | The prosecution argued Djindjic was killed to block his reforms, including the extradition of war crimes suspects. |
The trial was the first at Belgrade's Special Court for Organised Crime. | The trial was the first at Belgrade's Special Court for Organised Crime. |
'Political murder' | 'Political murder' |
The other 10 men received between eight and 35 years for their part in the assassination. Five of them are still on the run and were tried in absentia. | The other 10 men received between eight and 35 years for their part in the assassination. Five of them are still on the run and were tried in absentia. |
"It was not an ordinary murder, it was a political murder with the aim of destabilising the state," Judge Nata Mesarevic said. | "It was not an ordinary murder, it was a political murder with the aim of destabilising the state," Judge Nata Mesarevic said. |
Ulemek, an ex-French Foreign Legionnaire, and Jovanovic were said to be the ringleaders of the plot. They had been members of the Red Berets police unit. | Ulemek, an ex-French Foreign Legionnaire, and Jovanovic were said to be the ringleaders of the plot. They had been members of the Red Berets police unit. |
Some of the other 10 found guilty had also served as paramilitaries in the Bosnian, Croatian and Kosovan conflicts. | Some of the other 10 found guilty had also served as paramilitaries in the Bosnian, Croatian and Kosovan conflicts. |
"It was all prepared by Ulemek. Jovanovic fired the shots," Judge Mesarevic said. | "It was all prepared by Ulemek. Jovanovic fired the shots," Judge Mesarevic said. |
Analysis: Marathon trial | Analysis: Marathon trial |
According to the Reuters news agency, Jovanovic wrote a statement saying: "I liquidated Zoran Djindjic personally. I was not interested in the money. I did it to prevent extradition of our people to The Hague." | According to the Reuters news agency, Jovanovic wrote a statement saying: "I liquidated Zoran Djindjic personally. I was not interested in the money. I did it to prevent extradition of our people to The Hague." |
One gang member, Dejan "Bugsy" Milenkovic, who had been wanted for previous attempts on Mr Djindjic's life, was arrested by police in Greece in 2005. | One gang member, Dejan "Bugsy" Milenkovic, who had been wanted for previous attempts on Mr Djindjic's life, was arrested by police in Greece in 2005. |
The charges against him were withdrawn under a plea bargain, reports said. | The charges against him were withdrawn under a plea bargain, reports said. |
Dubbed Serbia's "Trial of the Century", the case was beset by problems. | Dubbed Serbia's "Trial of the Century", the case was beset by problems. |
One protected witness and another eyewitness were murdered, while one judge resigned and another received death threats. | One protected witness and another eyewitness were murdered, while one judge resigned and another received death threats. |
Outside the court on Wednesday the relatives of those jailed were booed and whistled by protesters, the BBC's Nick Hawton reports. | Outside the court on Wednesday the relatives of those jailed were booed and whistled by protesters, the BBC's Nick Hawton reports. |
National grief | National grief |
The former prime minister was getting out of his official car outside government buildings in Belgrade when he was fatally shot by the sniper on 12 March 2003. | The former prime minister was getting out of his official car outside government buildings in Belgrade when he was fatally shot by the sniper on 12 March 2003. |
He had come to power following the toppling of Slobodan Milosevic's government in 2000 and his murder sent fresh shockwaves through the country. | He had come to power following the toppling of Slobodan Milosevic's government in 2000 and his murder sent fresh shockwaves through the country. |
A state of emergency was declared and more than 10,000 people were arrested in a massive police operation. | A state of emergency was declared and more than 10,000 people were arrested in a massive police operation. |
Half a million people attended Mr Djindjic's funeral in a huge outpouring of national grief. | Half a million people attended Mr Djindjic's funeral in a huge outpouring of national grief. |
Are you satisfied with the sentences delivered by Belgrade's Special Court for Organised crime? Do you think the verdict will help Serbia's process of post-conflict reconciliation? Do you believe the justice system in Serbia is working? | |
If you would like to take part in a radio debate about this, please leave your telephone number, it will not be published. | |