Zagreb court: Man accused of strangling friend after quarrel
A 44-year-old man appeared before the Zagreb County Court eight months after his friend's death. The prosecution accuses him of taking the life of a 40-year-old with his bare hands while under the influence of alcohol and medication.
Zagreb court: Man accused of strangling friend after quarrel
A 44-year-old man appeared before the Zagreb County Court eight months after his friend's death. The prosecution accuses him of taking the life of a 40-year-old with his bare hands while under the influence of alcohol and medication.
According to the charges, the tragic incident occurred on 26 October 2025 in the early hours at a house in Oranice. The two men had been consuming alcohol together – subsequent measurements showed that the older of the two had nearly two per mille, while the younger had even more, 2.4 per mille. At one point, they reportedly quarrelled, after which, according to the allegations of the state prosecutor's office, the older man decided to take his companion's life.
According to the charge, he first squeezed his throat with one hand, then grabbed him from behind in a grip similar to a wrestling hold and prevented him from breathing. The body remained on the stairs until five o'clock in the morning, when the suspect called the authorities.
In court, a phone call with the police was played. The voice of the accused was hoarse and unclear, which indicated severe intoxication. He asked them to come because his "friend had died", and then told the police officer that he would like them to "take me away at three p.m."
When the patrol arrived, the man stated that the victim had attacked him with a screwdriver and that he was defending himself. However, the autopsy showed a different cause of death – asphyxiation. Before the judge, he repeated that he was not responsible.
The court reviewed hours-long footage from a nearby shop camera. It was visible how the two men moved down the street, entered and exited a courtyard, and their gait was unsteady. At times they appeared to be arguing, but no physical contact was recorded.
The suspect told the court that he was an electrical mechanic and that he owned half of one property – a structure with a collapsed roof covering 226 square metres. He explained that he had intended to convert part of the space for winter accommodation, but his arrest prevented him from doing so.
Experts determined that at the time of the incident he was of diminished responsibility. The next hearing will bring examination of witnesses and experts, who will supplement their findings after the defence is presented.
Source: Večernji list