Courtroom quiets as accused gang leader remains speechless.
Fresh Take:
Berlin courtroom drama unfolds as suspected crime boss stands trial
After a botched contract killing five years ago, the alleged kingpin refuses to break his silence in the ongoing trial at the Berlin Regional Court. With nicknames like the " Сербски човек " (Serbian Man), the defendant, aged 34, is alleged to be a key player in the infamous Balkan Cartel. The prosecution has accused him of attempted murder with malicious intent. His lawyers, however, vehemently deny these charges, claiming their client had nothing to do with the attempted assassination of an individual.
The defendant stands accused of masterminding and organizing an attack on a high-ranking member of a rival gang in Berlin, back in February 2020. An accomplice let loose two bullets in Charlottenburg, but their victim managed to evade harm, diving into a doorway.
Tragically, the target met his end in Montenegro, not long after, in a brutal car bomb explosion. The ongoing conflicts between these rival factions have led to more than 80 deaths and attempted murders, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).
Defense under fire
In a fiery statement, the lawyers fired back, criticizing the proceedings against their client. They denounced the depiction of their client as a mafia boss by the prosecution, describing him instead as a "scapegoat in a larger political game" and a "target of a smear campaign" in his homeland. The German authorities, they allege, have been reckless in their investigation of their client.
At first, the shots fired in Berlin had not triggered any investigations. Suspicion of attempted contract murder only arose following the analysis of messages on the encrypted messaging service Sky ECC, the prosecution asserts. In November 2021, it was reported that BKA officers had managed to obtain data from the chats of a Canadian provider.
Alleged involvement in multiple homicides
From Europol's perspective, the defendant is believed to be a key figure in organized crime, occupying a leading position within criminal groups. The prosecution maintains that joint investigations with the BKA in Wiesbaden led to the arrest of the man in Barcelona on October 18, 2024, and his extradition to Germany in mid-March. According to the authorities, he is wanted by countries such as Austria, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia, for suspected involvement in at least eight murders.
The defense contends that the authenticity and origin of the chat logs will be a major concern in the trial. They've also announced their intention to pursue international protected status for their client, claiming that he would not survive a single day, be it in or out of custody, if he were to return to Serbia. The trial resumes, with the first witnesses to testify on June 17.
Enrichment Insights:
- New details suggest the defendant's alleged involvement in organized crime extends beyond Germany, with suspected ties to Austria, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia.
- The case is not the only high-profile criminal case in Germany, with a different Berlin doctor accused of murdering 15 patients and set to stand trial in July 2025.
The defense argues that the defendant is a pawn in a larger political game, accused of being a mafia boss in the general-news trial unfolding at the Berlin Regional Court. Allegations of his involvement in multiple homicides, including eight murders spanning countries like Austria, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia, have been made by the prosecution in the crime-and-justice case.
