M.T. who tried to kill his wife Katarina, in May this year, in the village of Gornja Gusterica is sentenced to three years and eight months in prison, KIM Radio reports today. The victim Katarina Mitic in a statement given to RTV KIM said she is not content with the verdict and announced a complaint.
M.T. on 24 May this year caused grave bodily injures to his wife, by stabbing her 33 times with a knife, and also slightly injured their 11-month old son.
“The verdict is not realistic, because he just received three years and eight months. The attempted murder is punishable with higher sentences, than the actual murder. At the first hearing, nobody asked me anything. I doubt there is connection involved and that everything is bribed. I would file a complaint in the next couple of days, but I think there is nothing out of it,” Katarina Mitic told RTV KIM.
The maximal sentence for attempted murder is from 5 to 10 years in prison, however, according to Katarina Mitic, perpetrator received milder verdict “because the attempted murder is his first crime and he showed remorse.”
Mitic added the justice system in Kosovo failed, and that she is worried for her safety.
“I fear for my safety, because he will not serve the entire punishment, I suppose they would take into consideration his good behaviour, therefore in a year and a half or two he will get out of prison. It is too soon for him to forget what he has started,” Mitic explained.
Ruzica Simic from NGO “Women’s Right” who is familiar with the case of attempted murder of Katarina Mitic, said she is appalled with the verdict, adding she expected the perpetrator would be sentenced to seven years in prison at least.
“As a representative of Women’s Right I am very much against such policy. I had a chance to read the verdict, where the judge used as mitigating circumstances that the perpetrator confessed the crime, showed deep remorse and promised he would not commit such acts any longer. I have really nothing more to say, I am appalled with the verdict, that someone could show tolerance for such an act and that someone considers as mitigating circumstances confession and remorse,” Simic told RTV KIM.