Defense statements in Frenchman murder case

The trial for the murder of French football fan Brice Taton continues with closing arguments of the defense lawyers. They believe that not a single piece of evidence was presented during the trial that would show that any of the accused threw the victim down the stairs. Defense statements in Frenchman murder case Taton was brutally beaten on September 17, 2009 in downtown Belgrade. He died from the injuries 12 days later. 14 Partizan supporters have been charged with his murder. The defense lawyers point out that there is no evidence based on which the court could convict their clients. Dejan Puzigaca’s lawyer Svetozar Vujacic said that a political verdict had already been delivered in this case. I order to substantiate his claim he even pointed out that the inscription on a memorial plaque, which was put up at the place the Frenchman was attacked, which reads “to the innocent victim of mindless violence“ was not true. He also said that the indictment was “nebulous“. “I am defending Dejan Puzigaca who is still unavailable to the law enforcement because he is hiding from injustice and untruth which are embodied in the indictment that all of you heard, as well as my predecessors. There is not a single piece of evidence that any of these 14 men sitting in prison laid a finger on Brice Taton,“ Vujacic stressed. Other defense lawyers continue to present their closing arguments and some of them have used the opportunity to analyse every piece of evidence and testimony. Attorney Jugoslav Tintor spoke for four and a half hours yesterday, while it took more than two hours for Zora Dobricanin-Nikodinovic to present her closing argument. The prosecution and the victim's family have requested maximum sentence for the accused. The prosecution said in its closing argument yesterday that sentences needed to represent an example for all others so nothing similar would ever happen again. Victim's mother Suzanne Taton gave an emotional statement yesterday, saying that nobody was innocent in this case. She and her husband did not come to the trial today. Their attorney sought EUR 200,000 in damages yesterday. Since, as he said, the defendants were unemployed, he called upon the state to pay the damages so promises about combat against violence would not only remain empty words. The trial will continue tomorrow when the defendants will present their closing arguments and the court will then schedule a date when the verdict will be delivered. Brice Taton

Defense statements in Frenchman murder case

Taton was brutally beaten on September 17, 2009 in downtown Belgrade. He died from the injuries 12 days later. 14 Partizan supporters have been charged with his murder.

The defense lawyers point out that there is no evidence based on which the court could convict their clients.

Dejan Puzigaća’s lawyer Svetozar Vujačić said that a political verdict had already been delivered in this case.

I order to substantiate his claim he even pointed out that the inscription on a memorial plaque, which was put up at the place the Frenchman was attacked, which reads “to the innocent victim of mindless violence“ was not true. He also said that the indictment was “nebulous“.

“I am defending Dejan Puzigaća who is still unavailable to the law enforcement because he is hiding from injustice and untruth which are embodied in the indictment that all of you heard, as well as my predecessors. There is not a single piece of evidence that any of these 14 men sitting in prison laid a finger on Brice Taton,“ Vujačić stressed.

Other defense lawyers continue to present their closing arguments and some of them have used the opportunity to analyse every piece of evidence and testimony.

Attorney Jugoslav Tintor spoke for four and a half hours yesterday, while it took more than two hours for Zora Dobričanin-Nikodinović to present her closing argument.

The prosecution and the victim's family have requested maximum sentence for the accused.

The prosecution said in its closing argument yesterday that sentences needed to represent an example for all others so nothing similar would ever happen again.

Victim's mother Suzanne Taton gave an emotional statement yesterday, saying that nobody was innocent in this case. She and her husband did not come to the trial today.

Their attorney sought EUR 200,000 in damages yesterday. Since, as he said, the defendants were unemployed, he called upon the state to pay the damages so promises about combat against violence would not only remain empty words.

The trial will continue tomorrow when the defendants will present their closing arguments and the court will then schedule a date when the verdict will be delivered.