Witness Tomislav Marjanovic confirmed in a Belgrade court on Tuesday that Sreten Jocic promised via Slobodan Djurovic EUR 1.5 million for the murder of Croatian journalist Ivo Pukanic, as claimed in an indictment accusing Jocic, Zeljko Milovanovic and Milenko Kuzmanovic of murdering Pukanic and his business associate Niko Franjic in Zagreb in 2008.
Interrogated via video link from the Zagreb County Court, Marjanovic said the murder was plotted in the flat of Dario Anic, a friend of Robert Matanic, by Marjanovic, Robert and Luka Matanic, Amir Mafalani, Milovanovic, Bojan Guduric, and Kuzmanovic, and that Djurovic, their connection with Jocic, came to the flat several times.
"Once I, Robert and Djurovic were in the flat when Djurovic's phone rang and, after finishing the conversation, he said he had spoken with Jocic and that Jocic had told him to tell us that he would pay us EUR 1.5 million for the job, that there would even be a bonus and that money was no problem," said Marjanovic, who was a star witness in a Zagreb trial for the murder of Pukanic and Franjic.
Marjanovic said Robert Matanic and Milovanovic has discussions in the flat as to how to kill Pukanic, with Matanic pushing for a sniper rifle and Milovanovic an explosive, arguing that a rifle could backfire.
It was agreed to use explosive, leaving a sniper rifle as a backup plan, said Marjanovic.
The group started assembling for Pukanic's murder after Matanic returned from prison in Bulgaria, saying that Pukanic should be killed for writing some articles "on the tobacco mafia and some other stuff" and that after the job "everyone will be able to retire," said Marjanovic.
He added that the gang then separated into two groups which tailed Pukanic in different vehicles, and that one day Djurovic came, saying he had learned that Pukanic would soon leave Croatia and that the murder should be stepped up.
"Robert told him he had the right people and not to worry. Djurovic then gave him about 15,000 euros for equipment and expenses," Marjanovic said, adding that Matanic then instructed Mafalani how and where to get the equipment.
Marjanovic went on to say that he then had a fight with Matanic, his cousin, decided to withdraw from the job, and that several days later he learned from the media that Pukanic had been killed.
On November 3, the Zagreb County Court sentenced six men accused of killing Pukanic and Franjic to a total of 150 years' imprisonment.
Robert Matanic, charged with putting together a criminal group, was sentenced to 33 years in jail. His cousin Luka Matanic and their friend Mafalani were each given 16 years.
Milovanovic, who committed the murder by activating a device that blew up Pukanic, was sentenced in absence to 40 years in jail, while Guduric, who was to have shot Pukanic if the explosive misfired, was given 30 years.
Djurovic was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for being the killers' connection with Jocic.
Jocic, Milovanovic and Kuzmanovic are on trial for the murder in Belgrade.
Pukanic and Franjic, a collateral victim, were killed in downtown Zagreb on 23 October 2008.
