Police in Šiška missed opportunity: attack on 31-year-old despite restraining order
A 52-year-old suspect stabbed his sister-in-law with a screwdriver in Šiška in May despite having a valid restraining order. Police have formally acknowledged professional errors.
Attack in Šiška: police admit errors following stabbing of 31-year-old woman
The Ljubljana Police Directorate confirmed after an internal review "certain deviations from procedures and professional errors" in connection with a May attack in Ljubljana's Šiška district, in which a 52-year-old suspect seriously injured a 31-year-old sister-in-law with a sharp object. As reported by Žurnal24, the suspect had a valid restraining order at the time of the attack.
Rescue workers found the victim on the pavement; her life was in danger. The suspect did not resist arrest; the investigating judge ordered his detention. Criminal proceedings against him are underway on suspicion of attempted murder, said defence lawyer Iva Žižek.
Restraining order breached repeatedly, no action taken
Police first issued the suspect a restraining order in August 2024 after he attacked his brother with a screwdriver. Two months later, the court issued a one-year restraining order, and in March 2025 further ordered the property to be placed under exclusive use of the brother, according to Dnevnik.
Defence lawyer Tina Šnajder, who represented the suspect's brother during that period, warned that the 52-year-old repeatedly violated the restraining order — entering the house and approaching his brother and minor children. The brother called police several times, submitted surveillance camera footage and warned that the suspect was dangerous. In October, police notified the court of the breaches, but no further action was taken.
The day before the attack, the suspect intercepted a minor's path and forced the child to call his father. In the view of the defence lawyer, police should have detained the suspect at that point.
Internal investigation and acknowledgement of errors
Following the attack, the director of the Ljubljana Police Directorate ordered a professional review. "All circumstances and claims were examined, and certain deviations from procedures and professional errors were found," the directorate said. They added that internal security procedures had been introduced and mechanisms established to remedy the identified shortcomings.
Defence lawyer Iva Žižek was critical of the police's explanation. "Anomalies that should not have occurred were indeed found in the proceedings. If they had not occurred, this incident would not have happened," she said.
Source: Žurnal24