"We gave little girl drop of water at a time. She was skinny and scared": Chilling testimony of policewoman

Photo: MUP Serbia

The trial of Uros Pasajlic, accused of severely neglecting and abusing his 8-year-old daughter, continued today with the witnesses testimonies before the First Basic Court in Belgrade.

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Policewoman J.R. testified at the trial. She was the first to enter the apartment where the girl was held captive and described in detail the condition in which the child was found.

The officer previously described how Ivana L., who was Pasajlic's former partner (who is not the girl's mother), came to the Palilula police station in Belgrade and reported Pasajlic for violence, with visible injuries on her face, and that the victim then told her at that time that she suspected his daughter was lockedup in (a different) apartment alone, and had not been given anything to eat for five days at that point.

The policewoman then went to the address with her colleagues, and they managed to open the door.

The officer said that upon entering the apartment she sensed a strong, unpleasant odor, adding that it was very cold, dirty, messy and dark inside.

When they opened the bathroom door, they saw a girl in the bathtub, when the child that was previously lying in the tub stood up, and as described by J.R., she was very thin.

There was garbage, excrement, leftover food around the girl, the policewoman said, adding that the victim was shaking, just like the rest of those present in that moment.

S.V. added that they only gave her water, drop by drop, until an ambulance crew arrived, adding that the girl was frightened but did not scream or cry, she was just silent.

The mother

The next trial date is scheduled for January 15, when the girl's mother should give her testimony.

Defense attorney Nemanja Lukic submitted to the court during a previous court date a document from the Center for Social Welfare in Zvezdara, which, he said, states that Pasajlic had admitted to his mistake (in seeking custody) and renounced his parental rights.

Pasajlic was brought today from a detention unit, where he has been kept since March 28.

The indictment charges him with the criminal acts of domestic violence and abuse and torture (of his ex-partner), as well as that, during 2022 until March 24 of this year, thanks to his reckless behavior, he endangered the physical integrity and mental state of his daughter, a minor, L.P.

In doing so, he committed the criminal offense of domestic violence along the criminal offense of abuse and torture against emotional partner I.L.

The indictment says that he continuously intimidated the woman, threatened, insulted, and kept her locked up indoors against her will.

For the execution of each of the aforementioned criminal acts, the prosecution will propose to the court to pronounce the maximum sentence, as well as security measures, mandatory treatment for drug and alcohol addictions, in accordance with the findings and opinion of a court expert.

After the apartment in Zvezdara was searched on March 24, during which a minor victim was found, the prosecution ordered the police officers to search for the suspect who had fled, and they eventually located and arrested him.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)