Capital punishment in Croatia existed until 1991 when it was constitutionally abolished. The last execution had taken place under Yugoslavia in 1987.

Notable executions

In the time of Yugoslavia, several court cases resulted in capital punishment:

The last civilian execution in Croatia was done in 1987,[2][3][4] when a former truck driver Dušan Kosić was executed for the 1 March 1983 murder of his coworker Čedomir Matijević, his wife Slavica and their daughters Dragana (aged 2) and Snježana (8 months old).[2][3] In the course of the investigation, Kosić provided the investigative judge and police officers a detailed admission to the murders, but retracted it during his later trial.[4] The District Court in Karlovac found him guilty and sentenced him to death on 4 October 1983.[2][4] Kosić was executed by firing squad on January 29, 1987.[2][3][4]

Capital punishment was outlawed by article 21 of the 1990 Constitution of Croatia.[5]

Croatia is a signatory of Protocol 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights that abolishes the death penalty in all circumstances. The convention was signed on 3 July 2002, ratified on 3 February 2003, and came into force on 1 July 2003.[6]

Executions since 1959

Source: SPSK Database

Executed person Gender Date of sentence Date of execution Place of execution Crime Method
Pavao Čekada Male 1960 29 March 1960 Varaždin war crimes firing squad
Stevo Ovčar Male 1960 December 1960[7] Osijek murder of two policemen
Jovan Bugarski Male 1965 24 February 1965 Zagreb double murder
Kazimir Antić Male 6 November 1967 6 November 1968 Rijeka murder during robbery
Ferdo Dorić Male 1970 1970 Karlovac double murder
Kosta Dujić Male 27 November 1974 1976 Split double murder
Nikola Kević Male 1977 22 April 1978[1] Osijek double murder
Dušan Kosić Male 4 October 1983 29 January 1987 Karlovac multiple murder

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Majetić, Vanja (2005-11-26). "Smrtna kazna" (PDF). Vjesnik. pp. 39–42. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
  2. ^ a b c d "TAJNA POSLJEDNJE SMRTNE KAZNE 'Karlovački monstrum nije imao milosti. Morali smo ga osuditi na strijeljanje'". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
  3. ^ a b c "Deveterostruko ubojstvo najteži zločin". Glas Slavonije (in Croatian). 27 May 2009. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d "Za četverostruko ubojstvo i ubojici smrt". dalje.com (in Croatian). November 6, 2006. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  5. ^ "2. Personal and Political Liberties and Rights - Article 21". The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia (consolidated text). Croatian Parliament. Archived from the original on 2013-09-26. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
  6. ^ Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
  7. ^ "Izvršena smrtna kazna nad ubojicom dvojice milicionera". Slobodna Dalmacija (4922): 3. 15 December 1960.
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