ORASKIC GETS MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR TRIPLE MURDER, ATTEMPT. MURDER

ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - Mato Oraskic has been proclaimed guilty and sentenced to 40 years in prison and psychiatric treatment for a triple murder and an attempted murder at the Zagreb Municipal Court in September 1999. Oraskic is the first defendant given the maximum sentence under the new Penal Code, which came into force in 1998. Prior to that, the maximum sentence was 20 years. During a Sept. 22, 1999 divorce hearing at the Zagreb Municipal Court, Oraskic shot dead his wife Gordana, Judge Ljiljana Hvalec, attorney Hajra Prohic, and severely wounded court reporter Stanka Cvetkovic. A Zagreb County Court panel of judges chaired by Zdravko Jambrovic on Monday described the three murders and one attempted murder as ruthless revenge. Oraskic was given 30 years for the murder of his wife, 35 for the that of the attorney and the judge, and 20 years for the attempted murder of the court reporter. Due to a legal provision, the sentences have been merged into one 40-year sentence. During the reading of the verdict, the defendant squatted down, covering his ears with his hands. At Judge Jambrovic's order, police officers lifted him up and put his hands down. (hina) ha