Milos Perunicic, a 41-year-old Montenegrin man, was walking on a pedestrian street in Marbella when he was shot 12 times at close range on June 2, 2020. He was shot four times in the back and eight more times while on the ground. Perunicic died on the spot as his killers fled on a Suzuki motorcycle with an accomplice. The hired hitmen abandoned the vehicle less than two kilometers away, where the National Police found it later that same day. Near the motorcycle was a cap, and further away, a shirt with blood stains was found thrown in a rugged area. These two pieces of clothing were crucial in the complex investigation that led to the arrest of the two perpetrators at the end of the month. One of them, Simic N., has been sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison for murder and illegal possession of firearms, while the other, Milos M., received an 18-year prison sentence for the additional charge of document forgery.
The trial for the murder was set to begin on a Monday, in the morning, with a jury hearing, but the prosecution and defense of the accused reached a prior agreement. This reduced the sentences by almost half, ensuring that the perpetrators of the crime spend a significant amount of time behind bars. The resolution of the trial was simpler than the puzzle that the investigators from the Group II of the Organized Crime Unit had to solve. This team was created in 2019 to focus specifically on resolving settling of scores on the Costa del Sol, against the backdrop of a war between Montenegrin clans Kavac and Skaljar, resulting in numerous deaths across Europe since 2014.
The first lead was the cap found next to the abandoned motorcycle, which led investigators to identify the two men who had purchased it from a store in Marbella. Hours of surveillance camera footage from the store helped identify the suspects, who had also been stopped by the Civil Guard months before while traveling with their vehicle during the state of alarm. Additionally, forensic evidence confirmed that the blood on the shirt found at the same location as the motorcycle belonged to the victim. Video surveillance of the murder showed that one of the killers was wearing the garment at the time of the shooting. The police then began monitoring the alleged gunman’s residence in Estepona. Upon securing a search warrant, the authorities found a fake Croatian passport, an identity card, and a hand-drawn map in the suspect’s home, showing a specific location in Marbella where the victim resided, and where the motorcycle would be parked.
The two gunmen carried out the meticulously planned assassination using a Grand Power pistol to kill Milos Perunicic, who was living under the alias Slavisa Z. The victim had obtained a few days out of prison in Algeciras, where he was serving a sentence for drug trafficking. The crime was carried out in exchange for financial compensation, leading to the murderers’ imprisonment. Both assailants were located in Barcelona and arrested on June 30, 2020. After appearing in court, they were remanded to prison, where they have nearly served the maximum of four years allowed by law. Simic N. received a 17 and a half-year sentence for murder and document forgery charges, while Milos M. was sentenced to 18 years, including an additional charge of document forgery. Both individuals were also ordered to pay 50,000 euros to the victim’s heirs.
The investigation into the murder of Milos Perunicic sheds light on the sophisticated criminal activities within Montenegrin clans and their violent rivalry, leading to numerous casualties across Europe. The diligent work of law enforcement authorities in uncovering the evidence and apprehending the perpetrators highlights the dedication to bringing justice to victims of organized crime. The prosecution’s successful conviction of the assailants reflects a commitment to holding individuals accountable for their actions and preventing further violence in the region. The resolution of this case serves as a warning to those involved in criminal activities, that law enforcement will pursue and prosecute those responsible for heinous crimes, ultimately seeking to create a safer environment for residents and visitors in Marbella and the Costa del Sol.
