Jelena Dokic’s father sentenced to 15 months in retrial

BELGRADE - A Serbian court has upheld a ruling that sentenced Damir Dokic, father of Serbian-Australian tennis player Jelena Dokic, to 15 months in jail over threats to Australia’s ambassador to Serbia and possession of illegal weapons.

He had earlier appealed against his conviction and sentence that was given by the same court in June, where he argued that he had not been given a fair trial in the court.

Damir’s lawyer, Bosiljka Djukic, had been hopeful Dokic’s new trial would see him acquitted and freed, but he was again found guilty in a case that lasted only a matter of hours, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Meanwhile, Djukic also said that her client would lodge a further appeal in the next 15 days, as the latest ruling was “illegal … according to the same scenario” of the first trial.

Damir was arrested in May after threatening to kill Australian ambassador Claire Birgin, after Jelena indicated that her father and former coach had physically abused her.

Two illegal hand grenades, 20 illegal bullets, seven hunting rifles and a handgun were found in his house, which had permits. (ANI)