What sentence did Dražen Šolc receive?

He was finally sentenced to four and a half years in prison and a two-year driving ban after serving his sentence.

When did the traffic accident occur?

The accident occurred in 2017 on Ilica in Zagreb, and the victim died in the hospital three days later.

Was Dražen Šolc under the influence of alcohol or drugs?

The initial verdict determined that he was driving under the influence of alcohol and narcotics, but these allegations were removed from the indictment during the retrial.

Why was the sentence increased compared to the first-instance ruling?

The High Criminal Court accepted the State Attorney's appeal, assessing that there is a risk of reoffending and that it was a gross violation of traffic regulations with the most severe consequences.

Croatia

Former Parni valjak Drummer Sentenced to Four and a Half Years in Prison

A.E. · Prije 18h | 2 min

Dražen Šolc (65) has been finally convicted for the 2017 traffic accident in Zagreb's Ilica street. The High Criminal Court increased the first-instance sentence, accepting the prosecution's appeal.

Summary

Dražen Šolc (65), former drummer of Parni valjak, has been finally sentenced to four and a half years in prison.
The sentence relates to a 2017 traffic accident in Zagreb in which a pedestrian died, and Šolc fled the scene.
The High Criminal Court increased the first-instance sentence of three years and imposed a two-year driving ban after serving the prison term.
The court rejected Šolc's appeal, stating in its reasoning that he showed complete recklessness and a lack of humanity toward the victim.

Make 5MIN.hr a preferred source

The High Criminal Court of the Republic of Croatia has issued a final verdict sentencing Dražen Šolc (65), former drummer for the bands Fila, Prljavo kazalište, and Parni valjak, to four and a half years in prison. The verdict pertains to the 2017 traffic accident in which Vjeran Dasović was fatally injured at a pedestrian crossing on Ilica in Zagreb, after which Šolc fled the scene without providing assistance.

Three days after the accident, the victim succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Police located Šolc eight hours after the accident. According to the High Criminal Court's ruling, he did not turn himself in to the police, as he had claimed, but instead attempted to flee. The court stated in its reasoning that Šolc left the scene without offering help, demonstrating "complete recklessness, as well as a lack of humanity and respect for the victim."

Path to the Final Verdict

The first-instance verdict was handed down in late November 2023 at the Zagreb County Court, sentencing Šolc to a combined three-year prison term. However, the High Criminal Court has now accepted the State Attorney's appeal and increased the sentence to four and a half years. In addition to the prison term, he was also banned from driving motor vehicles for two years following his release.

The court concluded that there is a risk that Šolc could again threaten traffic safety, given that he grossly violated regulations by causing an accident at a marked pedestrian crossing with the most severe possible consequences. During the initial trial, Šolc was sentenced to four and a half years in prison and a five-year driving ban because it was determined that he was driving under the influence of alcohol and narcotics. However, in the retrial, these allegations were removed from the indictment.

Defense Appeal Rejected

Šolc appealed the verdict, seeking its annulment and a new trial, acquittal, or a lighter sentence. One of his arguments was that he no longer performs with bands. The High Criminal Court rejected all his claims but accepted the State Attorney's appeal regarding the severity of the sentence and the driving ban measure.