Former Binghamton Universty Basketball Player Out of Prison

The former Binghamton University basketball player who fled the U.S. to his native Serbia to avoid prosecution in the near fatal beating of another B.U. student in 2008 is out of prison in Serbia two months early.

Miladin Kovacevic was sentenced in October, 2010 to two years in prison by a court in Serbia for the attack on Brian Steinhour outside the Rathskellar Bar on State Street in Downtown Binghamton.

The attack sent Steinhour into a coma and left him with permanent brain injury.

After Kovacevic jumped bail and fled the country, reportedly with the help of Serbian diplomatic officials, Serbia refused to extradite him back to Broome County to face trial, sparking international tension.

Serbia agreed to try Kovacevic in that country and a payment of $900,000 in settlement was made to Steinhour's family.

Kovacevic's early release is part of a government amnesty program.