PG's Office Finds Shortcomings in Connection with Tragedy in Spisska Stara Ves

Bratislava, 6 June (TASR) - The Prosecutor-General's Office (PG) has found several shortcomings in connection with the tragic knife attack that took place at a school in the town of Spisska Stara Ves (Presov region) during which the attacker killed two women, TASR was told by PG's Office spokeswoman Zuzana Drobova on Friday. Errors were noted during the transfer of the attacker between schools, and they occurred at both grammar schools. The PG's Office therefore issued two public prosecutor warnings. It also detected irregularities in the procedures of the labour, social affairs and family offices. The Prosecutor-General's Office comprehensively investigated the procedure of Bozena Slancikova Timrava grammar school in Lucenec (Banska Bystrica region) when transferring the student to Spisska Stara Ves United School, under which the latter grammar school operates. "The examination into the matter revealed several shortcomings on the part of the grammar school in Lucenec, consisting primarily in the fact that it submitted to the grammar school in Spisska Stara Ves incomplete pedagogical documentation regarding the student that didn't contain essential knowledge or documents that evaluated the student's behaviour and other essential records of the class teacher about the student," said the PG's Office. The spokeswoman said that the receiving school was provided with information containing only praise from the student's class teacher for excellent grades and representing the school. It didn't inform it of substantial negative assessments of the student's behaviour, in particular aggressive and other inappropriate actions. The Prosecutor-General's Office also comprehensively examined the procedures of the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Offices in Kezmarok (Presov region) and Velky Krtis (Banska Bystrica region) in relation to the attacker between 2020-2024. "The examination revealed that both bodies of social protection of children and custodial care proceeded in a considerably lax manner in relation to the minor, despite undisputed knowledge of his long-term, not only inappropriate, but also unlawful violent behaviour," said Drobova. The prosecutor's office also found periods of complete inaction by both authorities, as well as the implementation of only formal actions, such as the provision of 'social counselling', and a passive attitude taken by these authorities in relation to dealing with the perpetrator's persistent long-term problematic behaviour. The victims of the knife attack that took place at the grammar school in Spisska Stara Ves on January 16 were two women, aged 18 and 51, a student and the school's deputy headteacher. Another student was injured. The police charged the suspect, an 18-year-old student, with premeditated murder. am/df