Following an intensive criminal investigation and in cooperation with Croatian law enforcement authorities, a 44-year-old suspect in the 31 January 2026 manslaughter in Bojanci (ÄŚrnomelj municipality) was arrested yesterday, 2 February 2026. Today, the initial findings of the criminal investigation were presented.
As France BoĹľiÄŤnik of the Novo Mesto Police Directorate explained, police officers responded to a violent incident in the ÄŚrnomelj area on the evening of 31 January. They found a dead man in the house, while the perpetrator had fled. According to initial findings, the 44-year-old suspect, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, took a gun following an argument with relatives and, during a scuffle, shot a 43-year-old man, who died at the scene.
The police immediately launched a large-scale search operation using all available resources, including dogs and drones, as well as assistance from hunters and firefighters, and also notified Croatian authorities and the public about the suspect. He was apprehended on 2 February in the area of the Primorsko-Goranska County Police Administration.
The police are continuing their investigation into the criminal offences of manslaughter and illegal manufacturing of and trafficking in weapons or explosives. The District Court in Novo Mesto has issued a European arrest warrant, and the suspect’s surrender falls under the jurisdiction of the court.
The police would like to thank everyone who provided information that helped track down the perpetrator.