On October 31, 1971, a tragic incident in Belgrade led to the death of 34-year-old taxi driver Boško Veljović, which has since been characterized as one of the most heinous crimes in recent memory.

The perpetrator, a 16-year-old boy named Z. D., reportedly took his father’s gun with the intent to commit a crime.

The day of the crime was marked by overcast weather and light autumn rain.

At approximately 5 PM, Z. D. arrived at a taxi stand in a Mercedes 220, which he chose after rejecting other available taxis.

He approached the driver, Veljović, asking for a ride to Avala, specifically the village of Prnjavor near the Voždovac municipality.

During the journey, Z. D. exhibited unusual behavior, speaking very little and only showing interest in topics related to a party he claimed he was attending.

Upon reaching the destination, Z. D. instructed Veljović to slow down.

After a short stop, he exited the vehicle, only to suddenly turn around and confront the taxi driver with the weapon, demanding the car keys.

Veljović did not comply, leading to Z. D. firing at him.

The gunshot struck Veljović in the chest, causing him to stumble and fall.

Z. D. moved closer to the injured driver and, upon noticing he was still alive, struck him multiple times with a stone.

Following the attack, Z. D. stole around 500,000 dinars in cash, the car keys, the driver’s identification documents, and other personal items before attempting to flee in the stolen vehicle.

Z. D. successfully drove away, heading towards the Ibarska Magistrala road.

During his flight, he picked up several hitchhikers, boasting about his new car and the crime he had just committed.

His driving skills were soon put to the test when he damaged the vehicle after veering off the road into a canal.

Eventually, Z. D. and one of the hitchhikers, Miodrag Tatalović, decided to take a train to Sarajevo, where they purchased new clothing and changed their appearance.

Z. D. reportedly opened up about the crime he had committed, discussing the cash he had stolen.

Authorities quickly commenced an investigation.

They connected the murder weapon to Z. D.'s father, leading to a swift manhunt across Yugoslavia.

Within two days, both Z. D. and Tatalović were apprehended in Zenica, while another hitchhiker, Gvozden Radojičić, was also briefly detained but later released after it was determined he had no involvement in the crime.

Evidence revealed that Z. D. had prior dealings with law enforcement, having been involved in smaller thefts since the age of 14. Following his confession and detailed account of the crime, he was charged under the laws of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which permitted a maximum sentence of 10 years for a juvenile offender.

His accomplice, Tatalović, faced lesser charges for failing to report the crime.

Ultimately, Z. D. was sentenced to nine and a half years in a juvenile detention facility for severe robbery resulting in murder.

The court ruled that his parents were liable for damages owed to the victim’s family due to their financial stability.

After serving some of his sentence, Z. D. was released in 1981. The details of his life following his release remain largely unknown, and if he is still alive, he would be approximately 70 years old today.