Skopje, 30 July 2024 (MIA) - The trial for the double murder of 14-year-old Vanja Gjorchevska from Skopje and 74-year-old Panche Zhezhovski from Veles is set to begin on September 4, as reported by the Skopje-based Criminal Court.

“Given the interest from the media and NGOs following the court’s proceedings, we inform the public that the main trial for case involving the double murder of Vanja Gjorchevska from Skopje and Panche Zhezhovski, is set, with the parties’ agreement, for September 4, at 10 am in courtroom 1,” according to the statement released Tuesday on the Criminal Court’s website.

Moreover, the hearing scheduled for today has been cancelled following a request for postponement from the Skopje Public Prosecutor’s Office due to merging of the two cases.

“Given that the investigation against the suspect Ljupcho Palevski has been completed and the legal deadlines for notifying about the concluded investigative procedure have passed, an indictment will be drafted and filed. This indictment concerns the same criminal event as case, which involves four other defendants and pertains to the same evidence. The Skopje Public Prosecutor’s Office will also propose merging the two cases in accordance with Article 28 of the Criminal Procedure Code,” as stated by the Prosecutor’s Office.

In May, the Skopje Public Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment against four people in connection with the kidnapping and brutal murder of 14-year-old Vanja Gjorchevska and 74-year-old Panche Zhezhovski. The defendants include Bore Videvski, Velibor Manev, Vlatko Keshishov, and Aleksandar Gjorchevski, the girl's father.

The investigation into Ljupcho Palevski, who is the prime suspect in the double kidnapping and ruthless murder, has recently concluded. Additionally, a second individual suspected of helping after the crime will be tried in a separate process.

Vanja Gjorchevska and Panche Zhezhovski, who were reported missing on November 27 and 24, were found dead near Skopje and Veles on December 3, 2023.

Photo: MIA archive