Third Jovanovic Murder Trial Starts in Montenegro

The third consecutive trial for the murder of the journalist Dusko Jovanovic began on Monday in the High Court in Podgorica, with the only defendant, Damir Mandic, accusing the police of "planting evidence".

Mandic said he had been kept in prison for 10 years although he was innocent saying that the alleged evidence had been taken illegally from the crime scene and contrary to the orders of the investigating authorities.

Jovanovic, the editor-in-chief and owner of the daily newspaper Dan, well known for his opposition to the government, was shot dead leaving his office in Podgorica on May 27 2004. He had received numerous death threats before his death.

Mandic was jailed for 30 years for the killing in 2009 as an accomplice to the crime. The verdict was overturned in July 2014, forcing a new trial.

Mandic is the only perpetrator to be convicted in relation to the murder. The masterminds behind the crime remain at large.

The court on Monday rejected the request of the Mandic's legal representatives to interrogate the Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, Minister of Justice Dusko Markovic and intelligence officer Tiho Gacevic.

The prosecution also objected, saying all three of them, as well as some other witnesses, testified during the months-long investigation last year.

Earlier, the OSCE representative on media freedom, Dunja Mijatovic, urged the authorities to end the apparent climate of impunity concerning attacks on journalists.

"I urge the authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation in the case of Jovanovic to identify those behind the crime and bring them to justice," Mijatovic said.