Silvo Plut

Case record: Silvo Plut

Silvo Plut was a Slovenian serial killer. He was born 29 May 1968 in Novo mesto, Slovenia. He died in April 2007 in Ljubljana, Slovenia (suicide).

Timeline

• 16 February 1990 — Silvo Plut killed his first victim, Marjanca Matjašič, in Slovenia.
• 1990 — Silvo Plut received a 15-year prison sentence for murdering a former schoolmate.
• 1998 — Silvo Plut received a conviction of rape.
• 2003 — Silvo Plut was conditionally released.
• 18 November 2004 — Silvo Plut killed his second victim, Jasmina Djosic (25), in Aleksinac, Serbia.
• 24 February 2006 — Silvo Plut killed his third victim, Ljubica Ulcar, and wounded her husband Miro Ulcar.
• 2 October 2006 — A court in Ljubljana, Slovenia sentenced Silvo Plut to 30 years in prison for killing Ljubica Ulcar.
• 26 April 2007 — A court in Nis, Serbia sentenced Silvo Plut to 40 years for killing Jasmina Djosic.
• 28 April 2007 — Silvo Plut committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills in prison in Ljubljana.

Background

Silvo Plut had a long history of criminal acts, including a 1998 conviction of rape and a 15-year sentence in 1990 for murdering a former schoolmate. He was released on probation after 13 years in prison. He was moreover sought on a murder charge in Serbia for the brutal killing of a 25-year-old woman in November 2004.

Silvo Plut was given conditional release in 2003.

His cousin Bojan Plut was also a serial killer.

The offence

Silvo Plut killed his first victim, Marjanca Matjašič, on 16 February 1990 in Slovenia. He killed his second victim, Jasmina Djosic (25), on 18 November 2004 in Aleksinac, Serbia.

He escaped to Slovenia after the 18 November 2004 killing. Slovenia refused extradition despite a warrant from Serbia.

Silvo Plut killed his third victim, Ljubica Ulcar, on 24 February 2006. He also wounded her husband, Miro Ulcar.

Investigation

The murder of Ljubica Ulcar caused outrage in Slovenia, including calls for sanctions against those responsible for failing to treat Plut as a potential menace to society.

Arrest

Silvo Plut remained in custody until the verdict was final due to flight risk.

Trial

The Ljubljana District Court sentenced 38-year-old Silvo Plut to 30 years in prison for the brutal murder of Ljubica Ulcar and the attempted murder and maltreatment of Mirko (Miro) Ulcar.

Silvo Plut’s lawyer Andrej Zabjek announced he would lodge an appeal and stressed that a prison sentence was unsuitable for a person who was so badly disturbed (as Plut). Zabjek believed Plut should be “humanised”, as suggested during the trial by Janez Rugelj, one of Slovenia’s most controversial psychiatrists.

The prosecutor said she would not lodge an appeal, as the court had fully considered all the circumstances that affect the sentence.

Judge Barbara Trebec Debeljak decreed that Plut would remain in custody until the verdict was final due to flight risk.

Plut was given 15 days after he received the verdict to appeal at the Higher Court.

Sentencing

A court in Ljubljana, Slovenia gave him a sentence of 30 years in prison on 2 October 2006 for killing Ljubica Ulcar.

Although the court sentenced Plut to a total of 40 years and 5 months in prison—30 for the brutal murder of Ljubica Ulcar, 10 for the attempted murder of her husband, and a five months sentence for the maltreatment of the latter—the highest sentence in Slovenia amounted to 30 years.

A court in Nis, Serbia gave him a sentence of 40 years on 26 April 2007 for killing Jasmina Djosic.

Silvo Plut’s total first-degree courts sentence was stated as 116 years of prison: 30 years for the murder on Oct. 6, 2006.

Appeals

Andrej Zabjek announced he would lodge an appeal.

Plut received 15 days after he received the verdict to appeal at the Higher Court.

Outcome

Silvo Plut committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills on 28 April 2007 in prison in Ljubljana.

Other details

Silvo Plut’s first victim was Marjanca Matjašič. His second victim was Jasmina Djosic (25). His third victim was Ljubica Ulcar. Miro Ulcar (Mirko Ulcar) was wounded in the attack on Ljubica Ulcar.

Zabjek described his position on sentencing using the term “humanised”, and the proposal for “humanised” treatment was suggested during the trial by Janez Rugelj.