"There is not a single trace that Danka Ilić's body was there"

Lawyer Radomir Munizaba explains to "Blic" that there is a possibility that the fact that the suspects in the murder of Danka Ilić changed their lawyers will result in their changing their strategy.

"By hiring a new defense attorney, there may be a change in the suspect's defense, i.e. whether the suspect will remain silent during the proceedings, whether he will present a defense, and also whether he will supplement his defense or change it at some stage," explains Munizaba for Blic. The question arises as to why the suspects did not hire another lawyer, but will continue to be defended by an ex officio defense attorney? When the power of attorney of the chosen defense lawyer is revoked, and the suspect does not hire a new defense attorney, then the prosecution or the court assigns him an ex officio defense attorney. This rule applies in cases where the principle of mandatory defense applies, and mandatory defense is prescribed when a higher prison sentence is threatened and when the suspect is deprived of his liberty. In this particular case, we do not know why the suspect did not hire a new defense attorney, and for that reason, the investigating authority appointed him a new defense attorney ex officio," says the lawyer.

He points out that it is important to find Danka Ilić's body and points out that the key evidence against the suspects would be the findings of injuries on the victim's body. It also explains what would be the key clues in the proceedings for the death of Danka Ilić.

"If it is a criminal offense against traffic safety, then traces or damage on the asphalt, as well as on the car, are the most important evidence. And in this particular case, the most significant injuries are on the victim's body.

Moreover, all the mentioned traces, damages and injuries to the victim would be included in the traffic and forensic examination. If it is a case of murder, then there are also significant marks and injuries on the body, the mechanism of injury and which injuries led to the death", explains our interlocutor.

Munizaba states that it is specific to this case that no trace was found that Danka Ilić's body was in the places where the suspects said they took the body.

"We can only guess why the body was not found, but what is specific to this case is that no trace was found that the victim's body was in the places where the suspects said they took the body. Not a piece of clothing, hair, or some other item that comes from Danka Ilić", claims Munizaba.

The question arises as to what will happen in the investigation itself if the suspects change their statements, in which they admitted to committing the crime and described it in detail.

"Suspects have the right to defend themselves as they wish, which means that if they confessed to criminal acts in the first stage when giving a statement, they can later change their statement and say that, for some reason known to them, they do not stick with the confession. In that case, their changed statements take into account, like all other material evidence, and after presenting the evidence at the main trial, the court makes a decision whether there are elements for a guilty or acquittal verdict. So, from the above, it could be concluded that there may be a change in the defense of the suspects in this criminal proceeding," says Munizaba.