26 September 2012

A mixed panel of two EULEX judges and three local judges presided over by a EULEX judge at the Supreme Court rejected the appeal of F.G. as ungrounded. However, the Supreme Court panel modified ex-officio the judgment of the Supreme Court and sentenced F.G. to a single long-term imprisonment of 29 years that included both of the criminal offences.

Earlier the District Court of Prishtine/Pristina had found F.G. guilty for the criminal offences of aggravated murder and unauthorized ownership, control, possession or use of weapons. He was found to have killed V.B. and A.X. and injured others in a land dispute in Shtime/Stimlje in April 2006. He was sentenced to an aggregate sentence of 25 years and six months of imprisonment.

The accused and the injured parties all appealed against the judgment. The appeal of the accused was rejected by the Supreme Court whereas the appeal of the injured party was granted. The Supreme Court modified the judgment and sentenced F.G. to an aggregate sentence of 30 years of imprisonment. F.G. had the right to appeal this Supreme Court judgment because he was sentenced to a long term imprisonment.

The case was prosecuted by a EULEX prosecutor in the district of Prishtine/Pristina.