Pozeska Street Attack: Suspect Silent, Detention Sought

The suspect in the attack on a woman in Pozeska Street, in Belgrade’s Cukarica municipality, was questioned at the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade and exercised his right to remain silent. After the questioning, prosecutors asked the pretrial proceedings judge to order detention on all legal grounds.

The suspect is Sekula N. (50), a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Police referred to him by the initials S.N. in their statement, while prosecutors named him in full as Sekula N.

According to the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, there are grounds to suspect that on August 25, in Pozeska Street in the Cukarica municipality, he used force against the victim, a 67 year old woman, in an attempt to take her wallet, causing her severe bodily injuries, and then used force to rape her. Prosecutors say the attack happened around 12:15 pm, while Espreso, citing police sources, reports it took place around 1 pm.

“Sekula N. is suspected of having used force against the victim on August 25, around 12:15 pm, in Pozeska Street, causing her severe bodily injuries, in an attempt to take her wallet,” the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade said in its statement.

Under the order to conduct an investigation, the suspect is charged with robbery, punishable by three to 15 years in prison, and rape, punishable by five to 15 years in prison.

At the questioning, the prosecution said, he exercised his legal right not to present a defense.

“After the questioning, the prosecution asked the pretrial proceedings judge of the Higher Court in Belgrade to order detention for Sekula N. on all legal grounds: the risk of flight, the risk of influencing witnesses, the risk of reoffending in a short period of time, and because the offenses he is charged with carry a prison sentence of more than 10 years,” the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade said.

According to police sources cited by Espreso, the attack happened on a secluded stairway between buildings, in a spot not visible from the street, so neighbors could not hear what was happening. The suspect was arrested within 24 hours of the attack.

The same sources say the suspect was already known to police. He had been released from detention shortly before the Pozeska Street attack, where he had spent 30 days for violating a restraining order in a domestic violence case. According to the same information, he had previously been arrested for theft and for stalking. Srpske novine had already reported on the arrest in the article “Raped a pensioner in Pozeska Street in Cukarica, arrested,” when the case was still in the early stage of the investigation.

Security camera footage, according to police sources, shows the suspect calmly walking down the street after the attack, wearing a white t-shirt and denim shorts, with a large black backpack on his back.

The investigation is still being led by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade. There is no official statement yet on the court’s decision on the detention request.