Shot six times in his bed at home, two of them fatal.

A local businessman in Slovenia, Uroš Vozlič, has been sentenced to 20 years and 10 months in prison for allegedly murdering a Bosnian national, Edin Delić, and attempting to extort money from another individual. The verdict was handed down by a higher court in Celje, following a trial that spanned several months and involved multiple charges against Vozlič and his alleged accomplice, Igor Velisavljević. The incident took place on September 5, 2023, when police were called to a multi-unit building in Žalec after rescuers discovered a severely injured man. The victim, identified as Delić, a 42-year-old citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had been shot multiple times. According to reports, he died shortly after being found. The perpetrator fled the scene, but authorities later linked the case to an extortion attempt that occurred on the same day. A woman associated with the victim’s circle received threatening calls and messages from an unknown number, warning her that she would face the same fate as Delić if she did not pay a large sum of money. Further investigation revealed that Vozlič and Velisavljević had used surveillance cameras to avoid detection before breaking into Delić's apartment in Trnavo near Braslovče. They reportedly fired six shots from a semi-automatic pistol, including one directly into Delić’s chest. The motive, according to prosecutors, was revenge and accumulated anger stemming from a dispute over damages caused to Vozlič’s vehicle during a traffic accident in July 2023. Delić, who worked for Vozlič, had allegedly failed to repair the damage, leading to a deterioration in their relationship. One of Vozlič’s daughters admitted that Delić had threatened to settle the issue financially, which further fueled tensions. In addition to the murder charge, Vozlič was accused of attempting to extort money from another business associate, Janez V. The alleged extortion targeted Vozlič’s tenant, who had previously rented space from him. Police reports indicate that Vozlič contacted V. via phone and sent SMS messages containing threats, urging him to pay a substantial amount of money. V. became fearful and sought help from the police, prompting an investigation. During the trial, Vozlič denied the extortion claims, stating that he merely wanted to recover compensation for false allegations against him, particularly regarding the sale of drugs in his establishment. During searches conducted at Vozlič’s residences, law enforcement officers uncovered evidence of drug trafficking. In a converted commercial space within a larger building, they seized approximately 17 kilograms of cocaine, around 10 kilograms of hashish, 17 kilograms of amphetamines, and nearly 10,000 ecstasy tablets. Another suspect, a Serbian citizen temporarily residing in Slovenia, was detained due to suspicion of involvement in illegal drug production and distribution. His arrest followed a separate investigation, though the identity of a third suspect remained unclear until recently. While Vozlič was convicted of murder and attempted extortion, the court ruled separately on the drug-related charges, which will be addressed in a subsequent legal process. The total sentence for the two charges combined amounted to 20 years and 10 months in prison. Vozlič and his defense attorney, Milan Krstić, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, arguing for a lighter sentence or acquittal. Meanwhile, the prosecutor, Irena Igerc, advocated for a unified sentence of 23 years and 10 months. Vozlič’s wife also filed an appeal, claiming that her husband was not responsible for Delić’s death. Igor Velisavljević, the alleged co-perpetrator, fled to Serbia after the incident but was arrested in late summer 2023 and currently held in Celje detention. He will face his own defense, separate from Vozlič’s. As of now, the proceedings against Velisavljević have not yet been scheduled, despite ongoing reports from the police indicating that he was involved in the crime. The case continues to unfold, with further legal actions anticipated.