The longest criminal proceeding in Croatia related to a murder, involving Krešimir Gilja accused of killing Mirko Rimca at Star’s Café in Zagreb in November 1999, is approaching its statute of limitations. The trial has been ongoing for nearly 27 years, with the deadline set for October 9. The case has seen five different judges and was initially concluded with a seven-year prison sentence for Gilja, which was later overturned by the Constitutional Court. Gilja has been living in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2022 and provided medical documentation stating he is not fit to stand trial. Despite attempts to conduct a psychiatric evaluation in 2024, it could not proceed due to his hospitalization. This year, the Zagreb County Court ordered investigative detention in his absence, but the High Criminal Court rejected appeals against this decision. However, Gilja’s defense requested the recusal of several prosecutors involved in the case, including the Zagreb County Prosecutor Davorca Mlinarić Žagi and her superiors. Until these requests are resolved, the trial remains postponed. The defense argues that the prosecution has not abandoned charges against Gilja for acts where the statute of
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of a legal process involving a high-profile murder case, detailing procedural developments, judicial decisions, and legal arguments from both the defense and prosecution. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing. The nu




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