An unemployed chef who abused and raped his partner for years is now serving a 10-year sentence.

A 44-year-old unemployed chef has been sentenced to ten years in prison after being found guilty of abusing and sexually assaulting his long-term partner over several years. The verdict was issued by the District Court in Osijek, with the possibility of appeal before the High Criminal Court in Croatia confirms the ruling. The accused, previously employed in law enforcement and the judiciary, had already served part of a previous sentence for drug-related offenses. The criminal behavior began in spring 2020 and continued until mid-June 2024, during which time he subjected his then-partner, now ex-partner, to repeated acts of abuse and sexual violence. The court determined that two serious criminal offenses were committed: violations of personal freedom and domestic violence. Given that the initial sentence exceeded five years of imprisonment, the court extended the custodial sentence, which currently stands at less than two years. Additionally, the defendant faces a security measure involving treatment for substance dependency, potentially lasting up to three years. During the trial, the accused denied all allegations, claiming that his relationship with the victim was perfect and that she had decided to report him to the police due to “supernatural forces.” He claimed that their sexual encounters were consensual, beginning after a visit to a religious site. According to the prosecution’s claims, the accused manipulated the victim into believing they needed to discuss child custody arrangements following the involvement of the Social Care Center (CSS). He convinced her to get into his car to retrieve cigarettes, but instead drove her to a place of worship, where he allegedly humiliated and sexually assaulted her twice. Investigations revealed that the victim endured more than four years of abuse, often while the accused was under the influence of alcohol. He controlled and belittled her, frequently insulting her as a mother and threatening her with a knife. He also forced her to consume aphrodisiacs. The victim described how the accused claimed he would expel demons from himself and suggested visiting Medjugorje, even going so far as to set fire to her car. A psychiatric expert noted that the accused suffers from a dissociative personality disorder, has a history of alcohol dependence, and exhibited significantly reduced impulsivity during the period of the crimes. The court did not fully trust the detailed defense presented by the accused, particularly regarding his claim that bruises on the victim's body resulted from her cleaning the house by placing her hands behind a radiator. As a mitigating factor, the court considered the accused’s reduced impulsivity and the fact that he was a parent during the time of the alleged offenses. Conversely, the court took into account his multiple prior criminal and disciplinary records, along with his persistence in committing offenses. The case highlights the complex interplay between legal accountability and psychological factors in cases of prolonged abuse and assault.