Luka Ritz’s Killers to Be Just Disciplined?

The maximum punishment for inflicting grievous bodily harm with fatal consequences is 10 years in jail, but minors can only be disciplined.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – The hearing of four suspects in the attack on high school senior Luka Ritz and his 19-year-old friend ended after more than three hours, the spokesman of the Municipal Criminal Court in Zagreb, Drazen Kevric, said. It is not known what the suspects told the judge of the Juvenile Sector, since, Kevric, said, the hearing was closed.

- I cannot reveal what took part in the courtroom because the suspects are minors. All I can tell you is that there has not been any suggestions on the sanctions yet and the State Prosecution will decide whether to demand a prolongation of detention for them. In theory, the State Prosecution has the right to seek a 24-hour detention extension, during which the court must decide on whether to initiate proceedings – Kevric said. He added that the questioning phase was completed and the preparation stage has not yet begun.

The spokesman also said that the maximum prison sentence for inflicting grievous bodily harm with fatal consequences is ten years, but considering that minors are in question here, the only punishment can be disciplinary measures.

Five suspects, of which four are minors, were apprehended on Tuesday and shortly thereafter they confessed to attacking Luka Ritz and his friend. Luka Ritz died ten days after as a consequence of the attack. According to the police report, the day after they attacked Ritz and his friend, the young men aged between 16 and 18 talked with enthusiasm who heard whom and how badly. After Luka Ritz died, the young men realised what they had done and pledged never to tell anybody about it. However, during police questioning, the five voiced regret over what they did.