Slovak court acquits millionaire after murder of journalist Our great lakes are shrinking – and the problem is bigger than expected

Millionaire Marian Kocner has been acquitted for more than five years after the double murder of a Slovak investigative journalist and his fiancée. A special court near Bratislava concluded on Friday that it cannot be proven that the businessman ordered the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend. On the other hand, co-defendant Alena Z. was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The case made international headlines. Kocner’s conviction was widely expected. The millionaire is currently serving a multi-year prison sentence for other crimes. Kuciak and his fiancé Martina Kusnirova (both 27) were shot dead in February 2018 at their home in the village of Velka Maca. The journalist had reported on the criminal entanglements of politicians and entrepreneurs like Kocner.

The prosecutor had charged Kocner as the actual mastermind and Z. only as an accomplice. However, the Special Court for Organized Crime in Pezinok, east of the capital Bratislava, found the evidence against Kocner insufficient. On the other hand, it was considered proven that Z. organized the double murder and also planned further murders. The verdict is not yet legally binding. (sda/dpa)