Two People Killed in Their Own Homes in Five Days: Four Suspects, and the Stolen Gold, Prosecutors Say, Ended Up in the Old Bazaar

The Skopje Basic Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation against four suspects over two robberies with fatal consequences committed within five days, in Hrom and in Gjorče Petrov. The court ordered 30 days of custody. What the order describes is cold work: entering someone's home, tying them up, beating them, then a trip to a goldsmith.

Hrom, 22 October

According to prosecutors, the suspects forced their way into a house in Hrom early in the morning. They tied the owner, a 62-year-old man, by the hands and feet, beat him on the head and body and then smothered him with a pillow. They took money and gold jewellery worth about 300,000 denars, roughly 4,900 euros.

On the afternoon of 22 October, the prosecution claims, one of the suspects drove the other three in his car to Skopje's Old Bazaar, where the jewellery was sold at a goldsmith's for 2,840 euros. From the killing to the sale, just a few hours.

Gjorče Petrov, the night of 26 to 27 October

The second victim is a 76-year-old woman. According to the investigation she was attacked in her house and beaten on the head and body, her hands, feet and mouth were bound, and she was taken to the bathroom. She died of her injuries. Her body was found on 27 October, after her daughter reported the case to police. Money, jewellery and valuables worth around 200,000 denars, roughly 3,250 euros, were taken from the home, and this jewellery too, prosecutors say, was sold.

In total about 500,000 denars, or 8,100 euros, from two homes. On 27 October, the day the woman was found, police detained four men aged 20 to 58, three from Skopje and one from Strumica.

For the offence cited by prosecutors, the Criminal Code provides for at least 10 years in prison or life imprisonment. A court will establish the guilt and role of each of them. One question doesn't need to wait for a verdict: when someone walks up to a counter with gold jewellery, should they have to say where they got it?