27 September 2013

During a news conference today in northern Mitrovica, EULEX prosecutors together with Kosovo Police and EULEX Police announced a reward of up to €27,500 for information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrator, or perpetrators of the murder of EULEX staff member Audrius Šenavičius.

The news conference was held in the presence of Jonathan Ratel, EULEX Head of the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo (SPRK), Andrew Carney, EULEX lead prosecutor on this case from the SPRK, Pascal Persoons EULEX Prosecutor from the Task Force Mitrovica, Captain Nenad Djuric, Acting Regional Director of Kosovo Police in northern Kosovo and Lieutenant Jean-Marc Baudin, EULEX lead investigator from the Task Force Mitrovica.

Pascal Persoons announced the reward and made an appeal to all citizens to cooperate with the investigation. "I'm making a personal appeal to anyone who has seen something, to say something. If you have seen anything unusual – no matter how small or insignificant you think it is - please report it, either to the local police, or to EULEX, on +381 38 78 6565 or +386 43 78 6565. Everything you say will be treated in strictest confidence", said Persoons.

Captain Nenad Djuric explained the involvement of Kosovo Police in the investigation. "Every day, my officers' work directly with the EULEX team. I would like to pay tribute to my officers who have been working tirelessly since last week to try and solve the crime. KP have been organising checkpoints and going door-to-door in the area of the crime scene to ask if anyone has seen anything that may be connected with the crime", said Djuric.

Andrew Carney explained to media present about the investigation on the ground that is currently ongoing. "Investigators from Task Force Mitrovica were reinforced on the day of the murder by a team from EULEX Organised Criminal Investigation Unit. Twenty skilled investigators are involved from the EULEX side, and every day we are working with KP. We are following a number of lines of enquiry. The task of the investigators will be to investigate each line of enquiry to their natural conclusion", said Carney.

The investigation into the murder of Audrius Šenavičius is carried out by a mixed team of EULEX Police and Kosovo Police investigators under supervision of two EULEX prosecutors. The case falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Special Prosecution Office in Kosovo.

Full speeches:

Jonathan Ratel

Good morning. My name is Jonathan Ratel and I am the Head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office in Kosovo, or the SPRK.

On Sept 19th 2013, the Special Prosecutors Office took conduct of an investigation into the tragic death of Audrius Senavicius, an international member with the European Union Rule of Law Mission, or EULEX, in Kosovo, who was killed that day, while on duty as a EULEX Customs Officer.  The Special Prosecutors office has taken conduct of this investigation because it falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of SPRK as an offence which is committed against an international staff member in Kosovo. The Special Prosecutors Office is working in close partnership with the Kosovo Police (KP) and Task Force Mitrovica (TFM) and the EULEX Organized Crime Investigation Unit (OCIU).

I want to introduce the assigned prosecutors and investigators working on this investigation. Firstly, the assigned SPRK Prosecutor is Andrew Carney, who is working in close partnership EULEX Prosecutor Pascal Persoons, Task Force Mitrovica. Acting Regional Director of Kosovo Police in northern Kosovo, Captain Nenad Djuric and Captain Jean-Marc Baudin, is the lead investigator, Task Force Mitrovica

Pascal Persoons

Good morning and thank you for coming. My name is Pascal Persoons and I am the Task Force Mitrovica prosecutor appointed to the investigation of the tragic death of Audrius Senavicius.

Audrius Senavicius was killed as he went to work on the morning of Thursday, September 19th. A week ago yesterday. He was shot twice and died shortly afterwards. He leaves behind a widow and young family.

So I want today to announce the reward of up to €27,500, or three million dinars, for information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrator, or perpetrators of this heinous act of murder.

I’m making a personal appeal to anyone who has seen something, to say something. If you have seen anything unusual – no matter how small or insignificant you think it is - please report it, either to the local police, or to EULEX, on +381 38 78 6565 or +386 43 78 6565.  

Everything you say will be treated in strictest confidence.

We do need your help to try and solve this murder. I am determined to work night and day to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators of this murder to justice.

I will now hand over to the Acting Director of KP Region North, with whom I have enjoyed excellent and close co-operation, to say something about the investigation.

Nenad Djuric
 

Good morning. My name is Nenad Djuric, and I am the Regional Director of KP. This murder occurred in my Area of Responsibility, and I want to make clear my determination to solve the crime.

I would like to pay tribute to my officers who have been working tirelessly since last week to try and solve the crime. KP have been organizing checkpoints and going door-to-door in the area of the crime scene to ask if anyone has seen anything that may be connected with the crime.

I have been working in full co-operation with my EULEX colleagues, who have lent technical support in the form of forensic expertise, and advice in terms of developing the management of the case.

Every day, at least five of my officers work directly with the EULEX team.

So, if anyone has seen anything, please say something. Tell me, or any of my officers.

I will now hand over to Andrew Carney, the prosecutor.

Andrew Carney

Good Morning. I am Andrew Carney, the SPRK prosecutor in the case. I have to say that I have been working closely with Captain Djuric, and I have been very impressed with his determination and dedication to finding out who committed this crime. I thank him and his fellow officers in KP for that.

Investigators from Task Force Mitrovica were reinforced on the day of the murder by a team from EULEX Organised Criminal Investigation Unit (OCIU). On the day, the crime scene was rapidly secured and forensics team rapidly conducted the search for evidence.

Twenty skilled investigators are involved from the EULEX side, and every day we are working with KP.

We are following a number of lines of enquiry. The task of the investigators will be to investigate each line of enquiry to their natural conclusion.

But the case will be solved here, amongst the local population. I would echo the appeal by the Prosecutors - please, if you have any information or knowledge of this crime or you may have seen something on or about September 19th, please call Captain Djuric or any of his officers, or call the prosecutors on +381 38 78 6565 or +386 43 78 6565. Everything you say will be treated in strictest confidence.