Mostar Court hands 45-year sentence to Anis Kalajdzic for femicide of Aldina Jahic

Kalajdzic was convicted of the aggravated murder of Aldina Jahic, illegal acquisition and possession of weapons, and the continued criminal act of endangering security.

The verdict was delivered by a judicial panel chaired by Judge Darko Zovko. Kalajdzic requested to attend the sentencing in person, although his presence was not legally mandatory.

The sentence follows a months-long court trial during which numerous witnesses were heard and material evidence was presented regarding the circumstances leading up to the murder, as well as the crime itself.

In its closing arguments, the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton requested a single sentence of 45 years in prison, arguing that the proceedings proved Kalajdzic committed all the criminal acts charged against him, including the aggravated murder of a woman based on her gender.

The defence did not contest that Kalajdzic committed the murder, but disputed the legal qualification of the act as gender-based aggravated murder.

Prior to the sentencing, family members, friends of the murdered Aldina Jahic, and citizens gathered outside the Cantonal Court in Mostar holding banners demanding justice. The banners bore messages such as "She had the right to life", "You will never be alone", "Stop femicide", and "Justice for Aldina". The victim's family had previously stated through their lawyer, Damir Alic, that they expected the maximum sentence of 45 years in prison.

Aldina Jahic was killed on 16 November 2025 in Mostar after attempting to escape from Kalajdzic, with whom she had previously been in a romantic relationship, according to the indictment. The indictment outlined that Kalajdzic had previously harassed, stalked, and threatened her with death. On the day of the incident, he intercepted her near a fitness centre and threatened her with a handgun. Jahic tried to flee and sought refuge in the toilet of a nearby catering establishment, from where she called the police to request assistance. However, Kalajdzic located her and killed her with a gunshot.

During the trial, particular attention was paid to the threats that preceded the murder. Family members, friends of the victim, and other witnesses were heard, alongside the presentation of material evidence, including text messages and phone call recordings. The prosecution argued that the evidence demonstrated Jahic was subjected to threats and stalking, and was killed after clearly indicating she did not wish to continue the relationship with the accused.

In his final address to the court, Kalajdzic expressed remorse and apologised to the victim's family, stating that his action had destroyed two families.

The murder of Aldina Jahic sparked strong public reactions across Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering numerous protests and renewed demands for more effective institutional protection of women from violence.

Today's verdict is a first-instance decision, subject to appeal within 15 days from the date of delivery of the written judgment. Any appeals will be decided by the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.