Denpasar, EyewitnessNews | The shooting death of an Australian citizen identified as Zivan Radmanovic at a villa in Munggu Village, Badung Regency, Bali, has now entered the prosecutor’s counter-argument phase.
The case, also known as the Bali 3, has again captured public attention after a response letter from the murder victim’s widow, Jazmyn Gourdeas, was leaked to the public before it was read. The letter was originally scheduled to be read by Jazmyn at the perpetrators’ sentencing hearing, scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2026.
In her letter, Jazmyn Gourdeas highlighted the prosecutor’s demands for 17 and 18 years, which she considered too light for a case of premeditated and organized murder.
“Sentences of 17 and 18 years for premeditated and organized murder risk creating the impression that even the most serious acts of violence have limited and manageable consequences. I respectfully ask the Court to consider the value placed on human life in these sentencing requirements,” she said.
Jazmyn Gourdeas also stated that the incident was a premeditated, organized, and collaborative act of murder, using illegal firearms.
“This crime has taken the life of a husband and father, and left a wound that will never heal for the family he left behind. The victim leaves behind a wife and six children, including very young children. This loss is not just the loss of a family figure, but also permanently destroys the sense of security, emotional stability, and future of the victim’s family,” she said.
Ironically, although the Public Prosecutor has firmly stated that all elements of Article 340 of the Criminal Code concerning Premeditated Murder, the element of accomplice, and the illegal possession of firearms have been legally and convincingly proven, which legally opens up room for the imposition of the maximum sentence, the Public Prosecutor has instead proposed sentences of 17 and 18 years in prison, respectively, which are deemed not to reflect the gravity of the act, the humanitarian impact, or the need for a deterrent effect.
“The impact of this crime is permanent. My children will grow up without their father. They will carry lifelong emotional trauma, financial hardship, and the daily loss of their father’s love, guidance, and protection. They will also grow up knowing that those responsible for their father’s death may one day return to their lives after serving a short prison sentence.
Jazmyn Gourdeas compared several cases involving foreign nationals from the Australian continent where the perpetrators received maximum sentences.
“Indonesia, in the past, has demonstrated a firm stance against serious crimes, particularly those involving foreign nationals, as reflected in cases such as the Bali Nine drug trafficking case, the 2014 Bali murders involving Heather Mock and Tommy Schaefer, and other serious criminal prosecutions where harsh sentences were imposed to uphold the deterrent effect and the sanctity of human life,” she said.
It was revealed in court that the shooting was planned by the three perpetrators: Darcy Francesco Jenson (27) (defendant in a separate case), Mevlut Coskun, and Paea-i-Middlemore Tupou, since June 9, 2025. Darcy was previously named as the mastermind behind the shootings of the two victims.
That day, Mevlut and Paea departed from Jakarta for Surabaya on the Tiara Mas bus, then continued on to Bali. Darcy is said to have prepared logistics and accommodations to facilitate the plan to kill the victims.
The murder plan was finalized until, on Saturday (June 14, 2025), the three of them arrived at the scene. Paea first damaged the villa gate using a hammer prepared by Darcy. After that, they pointed a 9mm firearm at the victims’ room.
After the shooting, the defendants fled to Jakarta with Darcy’s help. They stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Jakarta before heading the next day to Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Cengkareng, planning to fly to Cambodia via Singapore.
As a result of this brutal act, one victim, Zivan Radmanovic, the husband of Jazmyn Gourdeas, died, while the other victim was rescued. During the indictment, the planning and execution of the shooting were clearly revealed, but the motive behind it was unclear. The action has not been revealed. The defendants also named Mr. X as the mastermind behind the murder. However, they never identified who Mr. X is.
In the closing section of her letter, Jazmyn Gourdeas expressed her hope that the judge would consider imposing the maximum sentence against the perpetrators as a reflection of the gravity of the suspects’ actions, as a deterrent and commensurate with the loss of life.
“I place my trust in this Court to impose a sentence that reflects the gravity of this crime, respects the lives taken, and upholds the integrity and moral authority of the Indonesian justice system,” she concluded.
