Načelo slobodne ocene dokaza u krivičnom postupku

Abstract

Dokazi predstavljaju podatke koji proizlaze iz krivično-procesnih radnji koje su preduzeli subjekti krivičnog postupka, (pre svega sud, koji jedini izvodi dokaze u postupku), a na osnovu kojih se mogu izvesti krivičnopravno relevantni zaključci u odnosu na tako utvrđeno činjenično stanje, koji se odnose na sve elemente krivičnog dela i krivične odgovornosti, ili imaju krivičnoprocesni značaj, a na temelju čega se i donosi odgovarajuća odluka suda. Dokazivanje je veoma složena procesna delatnost koja angažuje sve krivičnoprocesne subjekte, bilo na liniji njihovih prava, bilo dužnosti da doprinesu rasvetljenju i rešenju krivične stvari, a ono svoj završetak nalazi u oceni dokaza, koja predstavlja podlogu presuđivanja krivične stvari. Pitanje ocene izvedenih dokaza može se rešiti (i rešavano je), na dva načina: ostavljanjem sudiji da sam stvori kriterijum kojim će ceniti izvedene dokaze (ocena dokaza po slobodnom uverenju) ili davanjem merila za ocenu dokaza u samom zakonu (zakonska ocena dokaza). Sve uočene anomalije načela zakonske ocene dokaza su u vremenu nastupelih društvenih promena, koje su se reflektovale i na promenu pravnog sistema i pravne svesti uopšte, rezultirale davanjem prevage suprotnom načelu - načelu slobodne ocene dokaza. Striktnom zakonskom dužnošću temeljnog obrazlaganja donesene odluke, te dejstvom važnih krivičnoprocesnih načela poput načela javnosti, kontradiktornosti, dvostepenosti, kao i nekim drugim krivičnoprocesnim principima, sprečava se da slobodna ocena dokaza maligno preraste u sudsku samovolju.

Contemporary criminal procedure is characterized by the principle of free assessment of evidence, which is considered today to be one of the basic principles of liberal criminal procedure. In this paper the author explains, among other, the principle of free assessment of evidence in Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Portugal, etc. He gives a definition of evidence and proof, explains the essence of the principle of free assessment of evidence and the presence of some elements of the formal assessment of evidence in contemporary criminal procedure. Evidence consists of facts originating in criminal procedural acts undertaken by subjects of criminal procedure (a court in the first place, being the only subject establishing evidence during the proceedings), and on the basis of which legally relevant conclusions may be made in relation to so established facts, concerning all the elements of a criminal offence and criminal liability, or which have criminal procedural relevance, and on the basis of which appropriate judgment of the court should be passed. Giving evidence is a very complex procedure engaging all the subjects of criminal procedure, whether upon the level of their rights, or their duty to contribute to clearing up and solving a criminal offence. For the purpose of reaching a fair decision or increasing the possibility of a fair decision, the hands of a judge are "untied" to a maximum, he is given great liberty in assessing evidence, but this is, of course, in correlation to his great responsibility. The most important exponents of the legal system and state authority are at the same time under several important imperatives - such as educating high quality judicial staff and making correct selection of best candidates; providing of necessary material and other conditions in order to enable judges to perform their functions conscientiously and expertly; elimination of any political or other influence upon the judiciary; prevention of unnecessary interference of the executive in the domain of the judicial power, i.e. consistent application of the principle of separation of powers, as well as creating of the necessary legal and social environment reflecting itself in the stability of the legal system, its orderliness and coherence. By giving reasons for his decision, a judge explains, on the one hand, why such a decision is logical and reasonable and what is its basis, while on the other hand he offers necessary explanation of his reasoning, particularly to the parties to the proceedings, but also to other subjects (the injured person, for example), which enables, what is particularly important from the standpoint of material irrevocability of a judicial decision, the regularity and legality of his assessment of evidence and the decision based on it to be reconsidered in the procedure upon appeal. By means of strict statutory duty requiring detailed explanation of a decision, and by means of important procedural principles such as publicity, adversary procedure, two-stage procedure, as well as some other procedural principles, the free assessment of evidence is prevented from a malign turning into judicial arbitrariness. The principle of free assessment of evidence is primarily connected to decision on merits, i.e. making a decision of a court, which also applies to free opinion of a court upon which a court bases its decision. This essentially is so, but it also applies to other procedural subjects too, particularly to the official participants to the procedure who freely evaluate evidence in several situations on the basis of their free opinion. Having in mind the substantial statutory authority given to judges in free assessment of evidence, it is necessary that the judges be not only first-rate legal experts but also persons of supreme quality, whose high ethical standards, good education, honesty, autonomy and personal independence, shall guarantee a lawful, correct, but also a fair decision.