PENALTY IN LINE WITH AN ACTION

Author: Perspektiva.plus

Darko Kovačević, also known as Daruvarac, was first sentenced to a single sentence of unconditional prison for five years for causing serious body injuries and threatening 18-year-old girl from Zadar.

The case occured on July 18th, 2018 when Kovačević has brutally beat L.G. in Zadar cafe in front of witnesses and surveillance cameras. None of the respondents reacted because of the fear of revenge and institutions that were supposed to stand in the protection of the victim also lacked reaction.

Daruvarac was arrested, but only 12 hours later, after victim’s mother insisted and called the police several times and forced them to arrest him. Therefore police had to make a statement of omissions and conduct four disciplinary proceedings. The heroine of this story is actually a mother who saw that there is no other way and took justice in her own hands. She recorded all her calls to the police and was not stopped by threats. She have done everything that she could in order that perpetrator end up in hands of justice.

Lack of reaction

Although the attack took place in a cafe, non of the respondents reacted. Bystander effect occurred followed by the thought that someone else will react. There was also a lack of civic courage during the trial, where some of the witnesses did not appear at all, while some lied even though they were under oath.

Secondary victimization also occurred, as well as threats to her mother. This case, due to its brutality, unprofessional behavior of the police and slowness of the judiciary, got much attention from the public. However, an atmosphere of fear of violence has been created to the extent that there is an increasing impression that society can not be defended and distrust in the rule of law spread.

18-year-old L.G. is the fifth girl that got beaten by Daruvarac, but she was the first one who had someone brave enough to make justice. Fortunately, mother, the heroine, did not give up her daughter.

Exemplary verdict

This verdict as an example of how to deal with abusers and it sends several messages: violence against women must not be characterized only as a violation. There is a huge difference between parking the car in a wrong way and beating a women in front of cameras and witnesses, which is a criminal offense. Daruvarac was punished with five years in prison.

This verdict sends message to the perpetrators as well. They should be aware that they will be punished for their violence! One of the biggest problems is the lack of witnesses reaction. By their inaction, such people ease the culture of violence because the perpetrator may have thought twice before molesting someone if he knew that there is an opportunity that he will be opposed. On the other hand, witnesses may react if they knew that they are threatened with imprisonment if they do not react, as is the case in France, Germany or Denmark.

And the last, and perhaps the most important message of this case, is adressed to the state: the law has to stand in the protection of the victim. The law has to obligate witnesses to react and report violence. The law has to be tougher!

 

Previous articleKosovo is not an industry of Fake News
Next articleYouth of Kosovo: the bridge that connects young Serbs and Albanians