Novi Sad canopy collapse investigation faces lengthy legal proceedings

Radmila Dragičević Dičić, a retired Supreme Court judge and member of the inquiry commission investigating the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse, stated that the legal proceedings will not be concluded quickly. She noted that significant time has already been lost due to an excessively long indictment review phase.

Dragičević Dičić described the case as a complex criminal matter involving multiple defendants with varying levels of responsibility. She anticipates that the process, including the main trial and first-instance decision, could take at least a year and may involve new forensic examinations, witness testimonies, and additional evidence.

She criticized the influence of state officials on the judiciary, specifically citing President Aleksandar Vučić’s comments regarding the Novi Sad Court of Appeals. Furthermore, she noted that the High Court previously attempted to exclude officials from the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, including former minister Goran Vesić, from the proceedings during the indictment review.