Dejan Paunović (33) from the village of Klokočevac near Majdanpek was monstrously killed on August 5 last year, when it was initially believed that the unfortunate man had died in a car accident, after which he burned in a burned car.
A year after the tragedy, Dejan Paunović’s brother, Zlatko Paunović, says he hopes that justice will at least be served in some way, even though his brother is no longer with us. Three months after the alleged accident, the horrifying truth emerged.
– Dejan was beaten to death, and his murder is believed to have been organized by his wife Slađana Paunović (29), on their tenth wedding anniversary, together with her lover Srećko M. (26), who was also Dejan’s best friend, and then minor M.P.
Slađana, as suspected, gave her lover information about Dejan’s movements, and also provided wooden handles, a shovel, and gloves to „get the job done.“ Srećko M. and the teenager M.P. waited for Dejan Paunović that fateful night when he returned from work and brutally killed him, then put his body in the car, set it on fire, and pushed it off the road down the cliff, where the charred body of the unfortunate man was found behind the wheel.
– A year has passed, and we still hope for some justice. Nothing can bring back my brother, we’re all aware of that, but at least those responsible should be held accountable. We mourned for Dejan thinking he had died, we said „that’s fate,“ only to find out in the end that he was killed by his wife, who shows no hint of remorse after everything, – Zlatko, Dejan’s brother, began.
As Zlatko said in his heartbreaking confession, his brother had never complained about marital problems before, he always referred to his wife in public as „My Slađa,“ and the background of this monstrous act is still a mystery in Klokočevac.
– It was rumored in the village that Slađana was cheating on him with Srećko, but we never heard any suspicion from Dejan. In any case, they wouldn’t be the first or the last couple to divorce, no one understands why they did what they did. Slađana has plunged us all into darkness and now, as I heard, acts as if nothing had happened, – said our interlocutor. The grieving brother hopes that justice will soon be served.
– We are still awaiting the start of the trial, hoping for a harsher punishment for Slađana and Srećko, especially since we were all shocked to hear that the teenager who Slađana paid to commit the murder received only seven years in juvenile prison. So, my question is – is someone’s life worth that much? – Dejan’s brother asks.
According to reports, a new date is awaited for the trial for the murder of Dejan Paunović, which was supposed to be held at the end of July, but was postponed due to the judge’s illness, according to our source.
– To date, the main trial on the indictment has not been scheduled, and by the decision of the Appellate Court in Niš, the Higher Court in Zaječar has been determined as the competent court to proceed in this criminal case – confirmed by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Negotin.
It is worth noting that the then minor M.P. was a key factor in uncovering Dejan’s murder, as everything was carefully organized and planned in advance to look like an accident, however, the teenager talked about what they did on August 5 last year in a café, and information soon reached the police. An investigation revealed the gruesome murder, and three months after the crime, Slađana Paunović, her lover Srećko M., and the teenager M.P. were arrested, who fully confessed to the crime to the prosecutor’s office, as well as receiving 100 euros for the murder and an additional 5000 dinars after „a job well done.“
A year passes…
Dejan’s family still cannot come to terms with the fact that Dejan is no longer with them and that he was murdered so monstrously. His grieving mother shares photos with poignant descriptions on her social media every month from the day her son was killed.
– Day by day, month by month, a year passes since you’ve been gone, my son – writes in Snežana’s latest post.
