14-year-old assassins Vanja from Skopje sentenced to life imprisonment

A court in Skopje issued its verdict today in the brutal murder case that shocked northern Macedonia. The 14-year-old killers Vanja Djorcevska were sentenced today to life imprisonment.

The girl disappeared on November 27, 2023, on her school trip at 7:25 a.m., and was found dead in early December near the village of Orman.

Ljupco Palevski Palco, Velibor Manev, Bore Videvski and Vlatko Kesishev were sentenced to life in prison for killing 14-year-old Vanja Djorcevska and Pance Zezovski.

Vanja's father, Aleksandar Gjercevski, was acquitted.

According to the indictment, all five people planned together the kidnapping of Pance Zezovski in order to use his vehicle to kidnap Vania.

Palevski had previously recognised the murdered Panco wig, with whom he was linked to an alleged operation of gold mines. The purpose of the crime was to receive a reward from a member of the Vanja family. Both were eventually killed.

According to Macedonian portals, Palco was the chief author of the assassination, and he is a construction entrepreneur. Palevski also has a pro-Russian right-wing party in Macedonia, and was in extradition custody in Belgrade with an international arrest warrant issued by Croatia, reports Express, broadcast Periscope.

Palco first fled to Belgrade, then to Bulgaria and Turkey, where he was arrested.

Vanya was kidnapped in late November, and her body was found bound and left out of town. Palevski knew her family, lived in the same building, and had a key to the entrance. Vanja's father also allegedly gave him information that the girl would only be on her way to school.

During the trial, all defendants pleaded guilty and demanded release from the charges. /Periscope