Murder in the Savinja Valley at the hands of senior judges

A higher court in Celje has ruled on appeals against the conviction of Uroš Vozlič, who was sentenced to 20 years and 10 months in prison for murder and attempted extortion. The case involves allegations that Vozlič, along with Igor Stanić, killed Edin D., a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in September 2023, and attempted to extort a business owner named Janez V. The appeal hearing took place on July 17, 2026, during which the Senate of Higher Judges reviewed the initial verdict issued by the district court in Tabor, Slovenia. Vozlič, represented by his lawyer Milan Krstić, filed three appeals challenging both the severity and the content of the sentence. Krstić argued that the verdict was based solely on assumptions and that there was insufficient evidence to support the charges against Vozlič. He maintained that the prosecution had not proven beyond doubt that Vozlič committed the crimes. In contrast, the public prosecutor’s office, represented by regional state prosecutors Irena Igerc and Nadja Sovinc, contended that the sentence was too lenient. They had originally recommended a 23-year and 10-month prison term, but the court reduced it by three years. Vozlič's wife also submitted an appeal, expressing disbelief that he could have been capable of killing someone. However, the prosecution remained confident that the criminal proceedings were thorough and that sufficient credible evidence existed to justify the initial judgment. The incident under investigation occurred on September 5, 2023, when Vozlič and Stanić allegedly murdered Edin D. According to the records, the attack took place around four in the morning near a multi-unit apartment building in Trnav. Vozlič and Stanić entered the apartment, number 20, where Edin D. was sleeping and had no opportunity to defend himself. They shot him six times with a semi-automatic pistol, striking different parts of his body. Edin D. died from cardiac arrest and chest injuries, bleeding into his chest cavity and succumbing to his wounds at the scene. The motive for the crime, according to the evidence presented, stemmed from personal grievances. Vozlič claimed that Edin D. had wronged him in multiple ways, including refusing to act as an employer, friend, or confidant, and cutting off all communication after failing to pay his last salary. Additionally, Vozlič alleged that Edin D. had exposed him for selling prohibited drugs. The victim’s death was described as a result of Vozlič’s desire for revenge, driven by a sense of injustice and betrayal. Separately, Vozlič was also found guilty of attempting to extort Janez V. He sent multiple threatening SMS messages to the businessman, demanding an unspecified sum of money. One message contained the phrase “tudi tebe ne bo čez tri četrt ure,” meaning “you won’t live through another three-quarters of an hour.” Another threatened that if the amount was not paid, the perpetrator would face the same fate as someone else. The word “koline” appeared in one of the messages, which prosecutors believe was intended to intimidate the victim. Despite these threats, Janez V. reported the incidents to the police, leading to further investigations. During the trial, forensic evidence played a crucial role. Biological traces of Vozlič were found at the crime scene, as well as on the fired bullets and the kitchen camera. Characteristic particles were also discovered in Vozlič’s car, on gloves seized during a home search, and in his business premises. These findings supported the prosecution’s claims and contributed to the initial conviction. The Senate of Higher Judges will issue its final decision in written form, providing clarity on whether the original sentence stands or requires modification.