Courts: Final Verdict in Case of Homeless Man's Killing (2)

Kosice, 26 June (TASR) - The verdict of the Kosice City Court, which sentenced former Kosice police officer Marek Arvai to eight years in prison for the killing of a homeless man, has become final, as the Kosice Regional Court acknowledged the withdrawal of the defendant’s appeal against the sentence on Thursday. TASR learnt the news from Regional Court spokesperson Anna Pancurova. Arvai was convicted of an aggravated crime of manslaughter. „The verdict of the Kosice City Court has thus become final, and the convict will serve his sentence in a facility with the minimum level of security. The public session was held in the defendant's absence," stated Pancurova. The City Court made its decision in the case on 21 May. Part of the sentence also includes a six-year ban on working in the police force or in private security services. The convict is also required to pay the costs of the victim’s funeral and damages to the health insurance company. Arvai's former police colleague was sentenced for misuse of power by a public official to a suspended sentence of two years and eight months, with a probation period of three years. The incident occurred on 5 November 2024, at a department store in the Kosice city burough Nad jazerom. According to the indictment, the two police officers physically assaulted a 48-year-old man named Lubomír after catching him stealing a bottle of alcohol. Arvai struck him at least five times in the head with his fist, causing intracranial bleeding. The second officer hit the man once on the side of the head with an open hand. The man was then transported by patrol car to the police station. Due to his worsening condition, paramedics later took him to the hospital, where he died the next day despite emergency surgery. The cause of death was a severe post-traumatic brain swelling. The case was investigated by the Internal Affairs Inspectorate (UIS), and both officers were dismissed from the police force by order of the Interior Minister. „I deeply regret what happened. I cannot explain my impulsive behavior," said 45-year-old Arvai in his final statement. The second convicted officer, aged 24, also expressed remorse for his actions. Both sent their sincere condolences to the victim’s family. mf