Serbia court convicts 26 members of mob group on murder, kidnapping charges News
Serbia court convicts 26 members of mob group on murder, kidnapping charges

[JURIST] A Serbian court convicted 26 members of Belgrade's "Zemun clan" and sentenced them collectively to 465 years in prison Friday. The Zemun clan once acted as a hit squad for former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic [JURIST news archive]. Those convicted, including former paramilitary commander Milorad Ulemek, had been charged with 18 murders, three abductions and two terrorist attacks. Eight of the convicted members of the group were tried in absentia and remain at large.

Ulemek and several of the group's members were convicted [JURIST report] separately last year for the murder of former Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic [BBC obituary; memorial website]. Ulemek was also convicted [JURIST report] in 2005 for murdering former Serbian President Ivan Stambolic [Guardian obituary]. His 40 year sentence for that conviction was upheld [JURIST report] last year. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US signed peace treaty with Germany ending World War I

On August 25, 1921, the United States, which never ratified the Versailles Treaty ending World War I, finally signed its own peace treaties with Germany, Austria and Hungary.

Former East Germany leader convicted of manslaughter for Berlin Wall policy

On August 25, 1997, Egon Krenz, the former of East Germany was convicted of manslaughter for promulgating a policy of shooting any East Germans who attempted to cross the Berlin Wall. Krenz was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison, of which he served four before being released into retirement from political life.