Police became aware of the case after a concerned co-worker noticed bruises on the victim’s body. Symbolic photo: Reuters/Alamy
Eight years in prison for a bully: he brutally abused and beat his partner
The County Court in Zagreb sentenced a 42-year-old man from Croatia to eight years in prison for a series of crimes.
June 24, 2026, 2:50 p.m
dd
The court found him guilty of rape, domestic violence and causing bodily harm. In addition to the eight-year prison sentence, the judge also ordered him to pay 5,000 euros in compensation to the victim and undergo mandatory alcohol addiction treatment.
Months of agony behind closed doors
According to the court’s findings, the victim’s suffering took place between June and September 2024. The convict systematically humiliated his partner, caused her physical and mental pain, and threatened her with death if she dared to seek help. Daily drinking was accompanied by harassment on the way to work and constant physical violence, he allegedly even raped her.
The police became aware of the case after a concerned co-worker noticed bruises on the victim’s body and informed the authorities.
Admitted the injuries, denied the worst acts
During the trial, the convict admitted that he had caused the victim’s injuries and expressed his willingness to pay compensation, but he strongly denied the allegations of domestic violence and rape.
When assessing the sentence, the court took into account the rich criminal past of the defendant, who has already been punished 18 times, including for banditry. As an aggravating circumstance, the judges considered the fact that he continued the violence against his partner even after he was temporarily released from custody. As a mitigating circumstance, they took into account his difficult childhood, marked by alcohol and domestic violence, as a result of which he grew up in a home.
The judgment is not yet final.
