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| Taton killers facing aggravated murder |
| 30 September 2009 | 09:26 -> 13:10
| Source:
B92 |
BELGRADE --
The public prosecutor has upgraded the charges against those accused of the attack on Brice Taton to aggravated murder, a District Court spokesman confirmed.
 | Candles outside the French embassy (FoNet)
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The victim’s parents were questioned today at the Belgrade District Court as part of the investigation against those accused of their son’s murder.
Taton’s parents were questioned by the District Court investigative judge in the presence of an interpreter from the French embassy in Belgrade.
Visibly shaken, Taton’s parents did not wish to give any statements to the media after questioning. The District Court has ordered an autopsy to be carried out on the body of the Frenchman, who died yesterday from the injuries sustained when he was attacked by a gang of hooligans in central Belgrade on September 17.
A day of mourning has been declared in Belgrade following Taton's death.
All institutions in Belgrade have lowered their flags to half-mast today. Employees in companies were entitled to hold a minute’s silence, while in educational institutions, a minute’s silence was held during the first period of the day.
Hooligans assaulted Taton on September 17 in Obilićev Venac in central Belgrade, hours before the Partizan-Toulouse Europa Cup match.
11 suspects were arrested after the attack, 10 of whom were remanded in custody, while the other was released on bail.
The ten were accused of attempted murder, which will now be upgraded to premeditated murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Condolences and warnings
The president, prime minister and other officials, together with the political parties, have expressed their condolences following Taton’s death, underlining that the state will react vigorously against all further cases of violence.
"Serbia will react with the greatest possible gravity,” said President Boris Tadić, adding that that warning applied “to all groups that have been promoting violence in recent days.”
Justice Minister Snežana Malović said that the courts had to come down hard on hooligans, not just by applying existing law, but through certain changes that would tighten control of supporters.
Malović has strenuously condemned the murder of the French national in Belgrade, and has warned of harsh sanctions against the perpetrators.
Speaking to B92, she reiterated that the state had to react both repressively and preventively against cases of violence.
“Repressive action by the state is full consolidation by the authorities in uncovering miscreants and bringing them to justice, while preventive involves changes to the law ,” the minister explained.
As possible changes, she cited ban for offenders from sports stadia, which is the practice in a number of other countries, as well as training of prosecutors and judges.
The minister confirmed that in certain cases, clubs had exerted pressure for offenders at sporting events not to be prosecuted.
“The prosecution will look into this, and if these allegations prove to be genuine, proceedings will be launched against those responsible,” stressed Malović.
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