September the 13th, 2026 – The French judiciary is currently preparing an international arrest warrant for Spasoje Petković, known as “Štuka”, the suspected Jean-Michel Nicolier murderer.
The French judiciary is preparing an international arrest warrant for Spasoje Petković, known as Štuka, suspected of the murder of French volunteer Jean-Michel Nicolier at Ovčara back in 1991. Index reports that news of progress in the investigation being conducted in Paris has brought new hope to the Nicolier family that justice will finally be served after 35 years. The family’s lawyer confirmed that the investigating judge at the War Crimes Department of the court in Paris is currently working on the warrant. Paul Nicolier, brother of the murdered Vukovar defender, told RTL that they received the news with “great satisfaction and deep emotion.”
the nicolier family will never give up on justice
“We’re extremely grateful to the French judicial authorities for all their efforts. We hope that, 35 years after the murder, all the circumstances of his death will finally be clarified and that those responsible for it will answer before the court,” said Paul Nicolier. He emphasised that this is an extremely important step that the family has been waiting for years and that sends a clear message: “Thirty-five years after the crime, the judiciary has not given up, and neither have we.” He stressed that the family has always wanted only the truth and justice for Jean-Michel. “Our lawyers Ghislain Dubois and Arnaud Bilen have our full and unconditional trust. We sincerely thank them for their commitment, determination and tireless work. For Jean-Michel, for our family and for his memory, we will go all the way,” concluded the brother of the murdered volunteer.
previous demands to serbia to extradite the suspected murderer fell on deaf ears
The Nicolier family had previously threatened Serbia with a private lawsuit and, through the embassy in Paris, demanded the urgent extradition of Štuka. According to information published by RTL, France has already questioned Petković, and the investigation is nearing its end. He told the French judge that he is not guilty, but investigators have reportedly gathered sufficient evidence against him. During the investigation, several people were questioned in Croatia and Serbia. One of the last persons questioned was someone hiding in Norway, who is suspected of having participated in the relocation of mass graves at Ovčara.
The exact location of Spasoje Petković Štuka is not known. It is only known that he lives under a changed identity at a secret location. Jean-Michel Nicolier joined the defence of Croatia in the summer of 1991 as a member of HOS. After being wounded in Vukovar, he was transferred to the hospital, where he awaited the fall of the city. From there, members of the JNA and Serbian paramilitary units took him to Ovčara. According to the testimonies of survivors, he was tortured and killed at Ovčara. His remains were only exhumed after 34 years from a mass grave. In the court proceedings for the crimes at Ovčara conducted in Belgrade, Štuka had the status of a repentant witness. He allegedly admitted guilt in exchange for freedom, and several witnesses accused him of the murder. One of them stated that Štuka, after killing Nicolier, even went as low as to steal 20 francs from his pocket.
