Father of 3-year-old after verdict handed to anesthesiologist: "I feel like I buried my child again"

The father of the tragically deceased toddler stated said he had been waiting for justice for 14 years, but has not received it

"I no longer hope that justice for the death of my 3-year-old daughter will ever reach those who deserve it. Today, I feel as if I buried her again," Aleksandar Grahovac, the father of 3-year-old Anja told the Nova S portal, after the Higher Court in Belgrade once again acquitted anesthesiologist Stanoje Glisic, from the private clinic Perfekta, who was on trial for negligence durin the treatment of the child who fell into a coma during the ophthalmological procedure in that clinic, and later died, in June 2007.

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The Grahovac family has been waiting for 14 years for an answer to the question: who is responsible for the death of their sweetheart Anja, after a marathon process that was conducted before the Higher Court in Belgrade. The girl died on June 4, 2007 due to brain damage, caused by the lack of oxygen during a surgery, which took place two weeks earlier.

Anja's father, Aleksandar Grahovac, says that he is still in shock and that he simply does not know what he could say about what has happened to his family.

"He (the anesthesiologist) was acquitted because no new evidence was presented, after the Appellate Court ordered a new trial. Nothing new has been established here since the new judge has been in charge, this is the fifth, sixth judge in the case, because I guess everyone has been pushing this case away from them. That would be it," says Aleksandar.

Anja's father adds that he expects nothing after 14 years of waiting for justice, the portal writes.

"The prosecution has the right to appeal, it is now going to the Appellate Court and if they confirm it, that is the end. I have no expectation that justice can ever be done. I have a feeling like I've buried her again," concluded Grahovac.

The Higher Court in Belgrade today acquitted anesthesiologist Stanoje Glisic of charges that he was responsible for the death of 3-year-old Anja Grahovac, who died after cataract surgery performed in the Perfekta clinic in June 2007.

After the retrial, on the order of the Appellate Court in Belgrade, and bearing in mind its orders and instructions, the court concluded that there was no causal connection between Glisisc's actions and the girl's death, the judge said, explaining the verdict.

He added that the injured parties, the girl's family, are instructed to claim compensation in litigation, while the costs of this procedure will be paid by the budget.

In the explanation of the verdict, the judge pointed out that it was not unequivocally established that Anja Grahovac's health condition worsened due to the defendant's omission. Also, none of the experts exclusively linked the defendant's actions to the girl's death, the judge added. Glisic was acquitted of the crime of committing a "serious offense against human health."

The prosecution has the right to appeal against this verdict before the Appellate Court.

Two years ago, the Appellate Court overturned the first instance verdict sentencing Glisic to three years in prison and ordering a retrial, while the same decision upheld the part of the verdict acquitting three other defendants due to lack of evidence.

Anja Grahovac underwent cataract surgery on May 21, 2007 at the Perfekta clinic, and died two weeks later, on June 4, due to brain damage caused by the lack of oxygen during the operation.

Glisic stood accused of the crime of "serious offense against human health" because, according to the prosecution, he did not take the necessary actions in a timely manner after the child's condition changed.

(Telegraf.rs)