3 persons suspected of involvement in reporter's murder

3 persons suspected of involvement in reporter's murder

BELGRADE -- A commission set up by the government to investigate murders of journalists has obtained information that could shed the light on the murder of Milan Pantic.

The Vecernje Novosti daily's correspondent in the town of Jagodina was killed in front of his home in 2001.

The newspaper writes today, quoting sources close to the investigation, that it is believed three persons were involved in the crime.

There have been "strong indications" that D.T, now a German citizen, as well as Z.O and S.K, both from Bosnia-Herzegovina, have all been involved in Pantic's murder - i.e., "have direct knowledge about the beating that led to his death."

Their exact roles in the murder are still being investigated, while members of the commission have isolated several mobile phone numbers that are connected with the attackers, the newspaper writes, adding that D.T. was using one of those numbers when the crime took place.

A source also told Vecernje Novosti that a composite image made on the basis of witness statements, that has been released publicly, "bears an uncanny resemblance to D.T." - a person originally from Bosnia who in the meantime changed his last name and is now a German citizen.

The commission's chairman, Veran Matic, told the daily that "this person from Germany" is yet to be questioned.

"We have not yet received a response from the German justice organs. Germans could question him themselves, or allow our investigators. Regardless of this, I can say there have been visible movements in solving of the murder of Milan Panic," he said.

Several months ago Matic said that the police had seven working groups working on the case, and...