The lawyer for the father of murdered 14-year-old Vanja Gjorchevska has asserted that the prosecution has failed to prove his client’s involvement in the crime. Vladimir Tufegdzic, representing Aleksandar Gjorchevski, expressed surprise and disappointment with the prosecution’s closing arguments, describing them as a “dry compilation of read evidence, disconnected from each other.”

Tufegdzic maintains that the prosecution’s case against the father relies solely on someone’s perception of him behaving strangely, without any concrete evidence linking him to the kidnapping and murder of his daughter. He emphasized the absence of communication or any compromising material that would connect the father to the other individuals accused in the case.

The lawyer reiterated his stance that the motive behind the murders was not personal gain, but rather an attempt to incite fear and unrest, particularly within primary schools. He criticized the investigation as superficial, citing numerous omissions in the investigative procedure that hindered a full clarification of the motives.

Tufegdzic also addressed the use of torture during the investigation, deeming it unnecessary in the 21st century due to the availability of modern investigative methods. He expressed his expectation that the reasons behind the investigative authorities’ decision to resort to torture will be determined in the near future.

The prosecution, in its closing arguments, stated that Vanja and Panche Zhezovski were murdered in a cruel and monstrous manner. They allege that Vanja’s father provided information regarding her solo trips to school. Ljupcho Palevski – Palcho, Vlatko Keshishev, Bore Videvski, and Velibor Manev are accused of kidnapping and murdering Vanja and Panche. Vanja’s father, Aleksandar Gjorchevski, is charged with aiding and abetting the kidnapping.