Millionaire acquitted in Kuciak murder

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Five years after the murder of the investigative journalist and her fiancé, a Slovak court acquitted businessman Marian Kocner in a new trial. Judge Ruzena Sabova said on Friday that it was not proven that the defendant ordered the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak. “There were doubts.”

However, the court found Alena Zsuzsova guilty, who was also accused. 25 years in prison and a fine of 160,000 euros to the victims’ families. Both Koçner and Zsuzsova are currently serving sentences for other crimes.

Prosecutor’s objection?

Kuciak, 27, and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, were shot dead in their home in 2018. Kuciak had researched the links between the Italian mafia and Slovak politicians and was also interested in Koçner’s work. Koçner was in contact with senior politicians.

Prosecutors were expected to appeal Koçner’s decision. The families of the two victims criticized the decision. “Zsuzsova was convicted, Koçner was acquitted – I don’t understand that,” said Jozef Kuciak, father of the murdered Ringier journalist. “We’re not going to leave this here.” The mother of the murdered Martina Kusnirova called the decision “disgraceful”.

Ex-soldier committed murder

Koçner and Zsuzsova were initially acquitted in the murder trial. Slovakia’s Supreme Court overturned acquittals in 2021 after finding “several errors” in the previous trial.

Koçner protested his innocence in a statement he made in 2020. “I’m not a saint, but I’m not a murderer either.”

The murder was committed by former soldier Miroslav Marcek, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison. The double murder shocked Europe. It triggered a crisis in Slovakia and the largest demonstrations since the end of communism, leading to the resignation of then Prime Minister Robert Fico. (AFP)

Source :Blick