Osječko-baranjsko county prosecutor’s office has filed charges against 28-year-old policeman Marko Smažila, who is suspected of killing 21-year-old Mihaela Berak.

The accused, a 22-year-old, is accused of firing a shot from his service firearm with the intention of taking the victim’s life on June 20, 2023, around 10 pm in Osijek, causing her serious and life-threatening bodily harm, resulting in her death at the scene – said the State Attorney’s Office.

The State Attorney’s Office has requested the accused to be kept in custody to prevent the repetition of the same or similar criminal offense. Initially, the Osijek police reported Smažila for a lesser offense of endangering with a dangerous action or means, but shortly after that, the State Attorney’s Office suspected him of murder.

The Chief of the Criminal Police Department of the Osijek-Baranja Police Department, Krunoslav Patača, confirmed that the police officer himself reported the girl’s death. According to media reports, the initial information indicated suicide, which Patača indirectly confirmed by stating that „the first report did not mention a criminal offense,“ as reported by Index.hr.

Allegations and messages that have come to light after the tragic event suggest that Smažila lied to the police, claiming that Berak had committed suicide. However, Patača stood by the police investigation’s conclusion, stating that the murder was accidental, during a gun cleaning.

Messages that have caught the public’s attention indicate that Smažila and Berak had a brief but intense communication before the tragic event. Berak complained in messages that the young policeman was „possessive“ and „causing drama,“ despite their short acquaintance. These messages also suggest that they were not in a relationship, contradicting initial findings.