Trial of minister who caused a fatal accident: claim to be innocent

A year and a half After a tragic car accident in which one person diedhas begun in Croatia today against the former Minister of Defense from the ruling HDZ, Mariu Banožić. Indictment burdens of causing a car accident with fatalities out of negligence. Banožić pleaded innocent at the start of the trial at the Vinkovci Municipal Court, Croatian media reported.

According to the indictment, Banožić is expected to drive a passenger car at an unadjusted speed. While overtaking the column of vehicles, it is expected to drive to the opposite lane despite reduced visibility due to dense fog and poorer transparency due to a group of vehicles in front of it. In the event that the court finds him guilty, he is threatened with a prison sentence of up to eight years under Croatian law.

At today’s first hearing, Banožić stated that he did not feel guilty of the alleged act. His lawyer announced that they will present the defense in more detail after the end of the proof of the court. There was no wife of a deceased in court today in court. According to Croatian media, the lawyer of the late family explained that her absence was the result of a difficult psychic state, but announced that she would attend future hearings.

The defense of the former minister today suggested hearing several additional witnesses, including Croatian television journalist Rtlwho detailed and reported the case. They also demanded a new transport expert opinion and reconstruction of the entire event at the scene of the accident. The State Prosecutor’s Office opposed most of these defense proposals by justifying that the actual situation is already sufficiently explained by the evidence so far, according to the Croatian news agency Horn.

A serious car accident occurred on November 11, 2023 in the morning near Vinkovci in the east of Croatia. At the time, the current Minister Banožić began overtaking a truck in a thick fog with his passenger car. During this maneuver, he collided in a combined vehicle that led correctly from the opposite direction. The forty -year -old driver of the van died at the scene of the accident, while Banožić was seriously injured and transported to the hospital.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković Maria Banožić dismissed from the post of Minister of Defense the same day when the accident occurred. He succeeded him in this position Ivan Anusicalso a member of HDZ.

While overtaking the column of vehicles, it is expected to drive to the opposite lane despite reduced visibility due to dense fog and poorer transparency due to a group of vehicles in front of it. Photo: Davor Javorovic/Pixsell

Although the court proceedings against Banožić should have started in March this year, they postponed the first hearing due to illness by the competent judge. From the very beginning, the whole case was accompanied by numerous allegations and concerns about the adequacy of police action at the scene of the accident, the investigation and subsequent indictment. Among other things, it was emphasized that more than five months had passed from the day of the accident until the indictment was filed, and the indictment was then confirmed only two days after the first anniversary of the tragic event.